Expanded early voting begins Friday across New Mexico as absentee ballot requests continue ahead of the June 2 primary election.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - As of May 15, a total of 1,879 ballots had been cast in Doña Ana County. That includes 1,261 Democratic ballots, 437 Republican ballots, 179 decline-to-state ballots and two ballots cast by voters registered with other political parties.

Most ballots cast so far in the county have come through in-person early voting. According to the state’s data, 1,733 ballots were cast through early in-person voting, while 146 absentee ballots had been returned as of Friday morning.

Expanded early voting locations across New Mexico open Saturday, May 16, adding additional polling locations beyond county clerk offices. Early voting will continue through May 30.

Statewide, New Mexico had recorded 13,730 ballots cast as of Friday morning. That total includes 8,326 Democratic ballots, 4,053 Republican ballots, 1,322 decline-to-state ballots and 29 ballots cast by voters registered with other political parties.

The Secretary of State’s Office also reported that 18,902 absentee ballots had been requested statewide as of Friday morning. In Doña Ana County, 3,748 absentee ballots had been requested.

Under New Mexico’s semi-open primary system, voters registered as decline-to-state or with minor political parties may choose to participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary without changing their voter registration.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is May 19. Election Day is June 2.

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.