Anson Stevens-Bollen
Santa Feans will vote for a new president, a United States senator, two representatives and several state representatives and senators, among other local positions in the 2024 general election. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Nov. 5.
How can I register to vote?
You can register to vote or verify your registration is up-to-date by visiting nmvote.org. Same-day registration is available at every polling location. Find locations and details online at www.sos.nm.gov.
Confirm voter registration status online at voterportal.servis.sos.state.nm.us.
When, where and how can I vote?
Early voting at the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office, 240 Grant Ave., began Oct. 8 and will continue Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. and ends with one Saturday voting opportunity Nov. 2 from 10 am to 6 pm.
Additional early voting locations will be available starting Saturday, Oct. 19, and every subsequent Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm until Saturday, Nov. 2. Voters can also cast their ballots every Tuesday through Friday between 11 am and 7 pm during this period.
Find the full list of early voting locations, along with Election Day polling locations and hours online at www.santafecountynm.gov.
The option to request an absentee ballot is also available until Oct. 22. To request one, go to the New Mexico Secretary of State Voter Services website. All ballots must be returned to either the County Clerk’s Office or any election day polling location before 7 pm on Election Day. A full list of drop box sites can be found on the Santa Fe County voter website. If you are mailing your ballot, plan accordingly.
The Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office allows voters to track their absentee ballots through an SMS-based system. It works for mailed ballots, but does not track through the clerk’s receiving and qualification process. Sign up is on the county website.
Who’s on the ballot?
Voters selected two new additions to the Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners during the 2024 primary election, who now run uncontested in November.
Educator and community activist Lisa Cacari Stone will fill the District 2 seat, which covers the Agua Fría village and a slice of Las Campanas. Old Santa Fe Association Executive Director Adam Fulton Johnson will take over Commissioner Anna Hamilton’s District 4 seat, which covers most of east side Santa Fe all the way to Glorieta.
District 5 County Commissioner Hank Hughes also runs uncontested for re-election.
Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark runs uncontested after defeating her predecessor Geraldine Salazar in the June primary election.
Magistrate Judge Melissa Mascareñas won her bid for the position in the primary against Morgan Wood, who was appointed to the role by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in July 2023, but by law had to be elected to remain as the judge. Mascareñas now runs uncontested for the seat.
First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, who represents Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties, is running uncontested for re-election after defeating her predecessor Marco Serna in the primary.
Primary races also decided several state Senate and House seats, as no Republican challengers made a bid in the general election. After defeating outgoing District 2 County Commissioner Anna Hansen and Senate liaison Veronica Ray Krupnick, former Rep. Linda Trujillo runs uncontested to fill the seat of Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, who announced at the end of the 2024 legislative session that she would not seek re-election. Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth also seeks unopposed re-election. Reps. Linda Serrato, Andrea Romero, Reena Szczepanski and Tara Lujan are all running uncontested for re-election in their respective seats.
One Republican hopeful, Edgewood Mayor Kenneth Donald Brennan, vies for Rep. Matthew McQueen’s seat in House District 50.
At the national level, voters will decide between incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich and Republican challenger Nella Louise Domenici. Two seats in the House of Representatives are also on the ballot. Incumbent Rep. Melanie Ann Stansbury faces off against Republican Steve Jones, while incumbent Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez hopes to defeat Republican challenger Sharon E. Clahchischilliage.
Finally, New Mexicans will have a handful of options to choose from for the presidential election. Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz face off against former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. Also on the ballot are the Libertarian party’s Chase Oliver and Mike Ter Maat; the Green party’s Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware; and the Party of Socialism and Liberation’s Claudia de la Cruz and Karina Garcia.
What else is on the ballot?
Four bond issues will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. The first would issue $30,758,100 in bonds to fund senior citizens facilities; the second wound send $19,305,000 in bonds to fund public libraries; the third issues $230,258,400 in bonds to fund public higher education institutions, special public schools, and tribal schools; and the fourth would send $10,297,100 in bonds to modernize public safety radio communications systems.
Four constitutional amendment questions will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot, including one that asks to extend a property tax exemption to veterans with less than a 100% federal disability rating and their widows and a second one that asks to increase that benefit altogether. Another asks to allow the dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law to appoint a designee to the judicial nominating commission. The final question would amend the state constitution so that the respective Board of County Commissioners would establish the salaries for county officials.
Santa Feans will also respond to several county and municipal bond questions. Voters will decide if Santa Fe County should issue $4.9 million to acquire, construct and improve roads; use $12.5 million for water and wastewater projects; and/or dedicate $16.1 million to construct and restore parks and open space payable through general taxes.
On the city side, residents will choose whether to issue a $25 million bond repaid by property taxes to improve city roads.
Which races am I voting in?
To view a sample ballot go online to nmvote.org and enter your first and last name, date of birth and county of residence
