Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot for the 2026 Primary Election is May 19
Santa Fe County, NM – The Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office is reminding voters that absentee ballot applications for the June 2, 2026 Primary Election must be received by the end of the day on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Voters are strongly encouraged to use the New Mexico Secretary of State’s online absentee ballot request portal to request their ballot, as the portal is the fastest way to ensure the request is received and processed before the deadline.
Voters who need help using the online absentee ballot request portal can contact the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office at 505-986-6280. Staff can assist voters and submit an online absentee ballot request on the voter’s behalf over the phone.
New Mexico now has semi-open primary elections. Voters registered as Decline to State (DTS), Independent, or another non-qualified political party may choose either a Democratic or Republican primary ballot without changing their party affiliation.
When completing an absentee ballot request through the New Mexico Secretary of State’s online portal, eligible voters will be prompted to select which party ballot they would like to receive as part of the application process.
 Voters registered with the Democratic or Republican Party will automatically receive their party’s ballot. Voters registered with qualified minor parties, including the Green or Libertarian parties, are not eligible to choose a Democratic or Republican ballot unless they update their voter registration. At this point in the election cycle, those updates may only be completed using Same Day Registration at a polling location.
At this point, voters are strongly encouraged not to mail paper absentee ballot applications, as they may not arrive before the May 19 deadline. Voters who prefer to complete a paper absentee ballot application should hand-deliver it directly to the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office to help ensure it is received on time.
Eligible voters using a paper absentee ballot application must also complete the section selecting which party ballot they would like to receive.
 The Clerk’s Office has also launched a newly updated absentee voting webpage at SantaFe.Vote with information about requesting an absentee ballot, joining the Permanent Absentee List, returning absentee ballots, secure ballot drop box locations, military and overseas voting resources.
“If you plan to vote absentee, don’t wait until the last minute to request your ballot,” said Clerk Katharine E. Clark. “The easiest and fastest option is to use the Secretary of State’s online absentee portal or call our office for assistance.”
Voters who are unsure whether their absentee ballot request has been received are encouraged to contact the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office directly for clarification.
Absentee ballots may be returned by mail, at secure ballot drop boxes located throughout the county, or at any open voting location during early voting and on Election Day.
For more information, visit SantaFe.Vote or contact the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office.
Important Election Dates
May 5, 2026 – Early voting begins at the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office.
May 5, 2026 – Absentee (mail-in) ballots begin mailing to voters who have requested them.
May 16, 2026 – Expanded early voting begins at additional early voting locations throughout the county.
May 19, 2026 – Last day to request an absentee (mail-in) ballot (must be received by this date).
May 25, 2026 – Polls are closed for Memorial Day.
May 30, 2026 – Last day of early voting at expanded early voting locations.
June 2, 2026 – Primary Election Day (Polls open 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.).
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