More than 9,000 ballots cast in Doña Ana County as early voting expands
Doña Ana County voters have cast 9,080 ballots in the 2026 general election. State figures show 97,494 votes statewide as an absentee deadline approaches.
New Mexico voters have cast nearly 97,500 ballots statewide, according to figures released Monday. Tuesday is the deadline to request an absentee ballot.
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
Key Numbers
Source: New Mexico Secretary of State, Oct. 19, 2026.
LAS CRUCES - More than 9,000 Doña Ana County residents have already voted in New Mexico's 2026 general election, according to figures released Monday by the Secretary of State's Office, as expanded early voting gets underway and a key absentee ballot deadline approaches.
The county recorded 9,080 ballots cast through early in-person and absentee voting as of the Oct. 19 report. Statewide, voters have cast 97,494 ballots.
In Doña Ana County, 7,956 ballots were cast in person during early voting, while 1,124 absentee ballots were recorded. Early in-person voting accounted for nearly 88% of the county's ballots.
The statewide totals included 74,093 early in-person ballots and 23,401 absentee ballots.
Doña Ana County votes by party registration
Ballots cast as of Oct. 19, 2026
Source: New Mexico Secretary of State, Oct. 19, 2026. Figures reflect voters' party registration, not candidate selections. Total ballots cast: 9,080.
Voting totals by party registration
Among Doña Ana County residents who have voted, 5,425 are registered Democrats and 2,154 are registered Republicans, according to the state's figures.
Another 1,457 voters declined to state a party affiliation, while 44 were registered with other political parties or classifications.
The figures identify voters by their registration status, not how they voted. They do not indicate support for individual candidates or ballot measures.
Statewide, 56,922 ballots were cast by registered Democrats and 25,797 by registered Republicans. Another 14,128 came from voters who declined to state a party affiliation, with 647 attributed to other parties or classifications.
Absentee request deadline Tuesday
Tuesday, Oct. 20, is the last day New Mexico voters can request a mail-in absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
As of Monday's report, 8,880 absentee ballot requests had been recorded in Doña Ana County, compared with 1,124 absentee ballots cast.
Statewide, election officials recorded 86,073 absentee requests and 23,401 absentee ballots cast.
Those are separate measures. An absentee ballot request does not mean a ballot has been returned or counted.
Expanded early voting began Saturday, Oct. 17, adding voting locations beyond county clerks' offices.
Early voting continues through Saturday, Oct. 31.
Same-day registration remains available
Although the regular deadline to register online or by mail passed Oct. 6, eligible residents can still register and vote through New Mexico's same-day voter registration process.
The Secretary of State's Office reported 65 same-day registrations in Doña Ana County and 749 statewide as of Monday.
Same-day registration is available at county clerks' offices and designated polling locations.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters returning absentee ballots by mail must ensure their ballots are received by election officials no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
The Oct. 19 figures represent ballots cast so far, not a final turnout count. They also do not establish a turnout percentage because the reports do not include the number of registered voters in each county.
Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.
