New Mexico Athletics is committed to encouraging voter participation amongst our student-athletes, coaches and staff, our community, our state and our country. As Lobos, and as citizens, we have the ability to impact the future.

We encourage everyone to be informed – on the issues and on their options for voting – and then to make a plan to vote.

General Election: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020
Last day to register to vote: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 (in New Mexico)
Last day to request an absentee ballot: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 (in New Mexico)

HOW TO BE INFORMED
Learn your state’s voting laws: What do you need to do to register? Do you need to be registered with a political party to vote in an election? What identification will you need at a polling place? If you want to vote early or prefer, because of the pandemic, to vote from home, what are your state’s rules on voting by mail?

MAKE A VOTING PLAN
Elections are determined by the people who show up and vote. Figure out how you will vote, whether going to the polls or through a mail-in ballot, as well as when and where you will vote. Once you make that decision, determine deadlines for that plan and put those dates on your calendar as a reminder. If voting in person, think about how will you get to the polls and do you have the necessary documents to vote? If voting by mail, when do you need to submit your absentee ballot request form and return your ballot by?
Below are key dates and information to assist in making a plan.

REGISTERING
Register to Vote: Registering to vote is just the first, albeit important, step in being a civically engaged citizen. No matter what state you live in, if you haven’t yet registered, go to Vote.org and follow the steps.
To register in New Mexico, an applicant must be registered by Oct. 6. You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person.
Voter registration requirements
Updating your registration: If you have already registered, but your name or address has changed or you would like to change your political party, update your registration online.
University of New Mexico students: Students have a choice about where to register to vote. Students attending college may register at their campus address or choose to remain registered or register at their permanent or home address. However, you may only be registered and vote in one location.
What you need to register 

HOW TO VOTE
Finding a polling location
Early In-Person Voting: New Mexico provides early voting in each county, starting on Saturday, Oct. 17 and ending on Saturday, Oct. 31. Refer to the polling location finder above to find out where you can vote early and the days and hours of operation.
Absentee/ Mail Voting: No excuse is required to vote with an absentee ballot in the state of New Mexico
Absentee voting begins on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. MT on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Absentee ballot information: You can request a ballot by filling out an application online, by contacting your County Clerk’s Office in person, by phone, mail or email, or by downloading an absentee ballot application and mailing it or hand delivering it to your County Clerk’s Office.
In addition, for the first time, absentee voting has expanded to be more accessible in New Mexico. A voter who is blind or visually impaired can now request an absentee ballot that allows them to independently use their own non-visual or low-vision technology to mark their ballot.
To request an accessible absentee ballot application online.
Returning your absentee ballot: There are multiple ways for voters to return their absentee ballot. If mailing it, mail by Oct. 27th to ensure it arrives before Election Day.  Or, drop off your ballot at your County Clerk’s office or at any polling location in your county during the early voting period or on Election Day. All absentee ballots may be returned to the County Clerk’s Office or any Election Day polling location no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. Pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 1-6-10.1, a voter, caregiver to that voter or member of that voter’s “immediate family” defined as a person’s spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters may deliver a voter’s absentee ballot to the county clerk in person or by mail.
Tracking your absentee ballot: To check the status of your absentee application and ballot tracking, go here.
Information for Military and Overseas Voters
Information for States Outside of New Mexico: Each state has different deadlines for registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot, and different options on how to vote. Find out the information for your state.

New Mexico law now provides the opportunity for people to register to vote or update their voter registration immediately before voting in a statewide election during Early Voting.
Voters can register and vote early October 17-31, 2020 (Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) at the following locations:
Clerk’s Annex – 1500 Lomas Blvd NW, Suite A
98th & Central – 120 98th St NW Suite B101 & B102
Alameda West – 10131 Coors Blvd. NW Suite C-02
Bernalillo County Visitor Center – 6080 Isleta Blvd. SW
Four Hills Shopping Center – 13140 Central Ave SE Suite 1420
Holly Plaza Shopping Center – 6600 Holly NE Suite B-6
Los Ranchos Villa – 6601 4th St NW Suites E & F

MORE RESOURCES
Presidential/ VP Debates (Presidential unless otherwise noted)
Sept. 29 (7 p.m. MT)
Oct. 7 (7 p.m. MT) VP Debate
Oct. 15 (7 p.m. MT)
Oct. 22 (7 p.m. MT)

Candidate Positions: There are several websites that provide breakdowns of where candidates stand on issues across the board, for both national and local elections.
Campus Election Engagement Project
ProCon
Find Out What’s On Your Ballot

ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOTE
Tell others about your voting plan, discuss what their voting plan is and remind them to vote. Have a dialogue about the candidates and voting, ask what questions they have about voting and provide resources. Hold each other accountable to be engaged, to be informed and vote.

According to some estimates, over 100 million people who have the right to vote didn’t vote in the 2016 election and more than 15 million people have turned 18 since the last presidential election. In New Mexico, out of the 1,289,414 total eligible voters, 804,073 (62.4%) voted in 2016. Use your voice through your vote.

Voting is your chance to voice what issues you care about and to influence who makes the decisions when it comes to economic, social, environmental and educational policies.

“By voting, we add our voice to the chorus that forms opinions and the basis for actions.” – Jens Stoltenberg

OTHER WAYS TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED
If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to fill out the 2020 Census online. You can also respond by phone or by mail. By doing so, your response helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, healthcare, housing and other public services. Additionally, results from the 2020 Census will be used to define boundaries for voting and school districts and to determine the number of seats each state has in Congress and your political representation at all levels of government. The deadline to self-respond is Sept. 30th.

The 2020 Census counts everyone living in the United States and its five territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Only one person, who must be at least 15 years old, needs to respond for each home. They should live in the home or place of residence themselves and know general information about each person living there.

One important note is that the Census should be filled out based on how many people were living in your home on April 1, 2020. 

College students should still be counted at school, even if they were home because of COVID-19. If they lived in student housing, the college will count them. If they lived off campus, they should complete the census for their off-campus address and include any roommates or other people living there.