By Damien Willis on May 22, 2026

Doña Ana County early voting triples as absentee ballots surge ahead of June primary

Early voting in Doña Ana County has climbed to nearly 6,000 ballots cast ahead of New Mexico’s June 2 primary election, driven by a sharp increase in absentee voting and expanded early voting locations.

Early voting continues across New Mexico ahead of the June 2 primary election, with Doña Ana County reporting nearly 6,000 ballots cast as of May 22. (Phil Hearing / Unsplash)

County surpasses 5,900 ballots cast as expanded early voting ramps up across New Mexico

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - According to voter data released Friday by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office, 5,941 ballots had been cast in Doña Ana County as of May 22. That marks a sharp increase from May 15, when the county had recorded 1,879 ballots cast.

Democrats account for the largest share of ballots cast in Doña Ana County so far, with 4,039 votes recorded. Republicans account for 1,340 ballots, while voters registered as Declined to State, or DTS, have cast 557 ballots. Four ballots came from voters registered with other parties.

The latest figures show major growth in both absentee voting and expanded early voting participation.

As of May 22, Doña Ana County had recorded 4,091 early in-person votes and 1,850 returned absentee ballots. One week earlier, the county had reported only 146 returned absentee ballots.

Absentee ballot requests have also increased significantly. The county has now received 6,613 absentee ballot requests, up from 3,748 requests reported May 15.

The surge comes after expanded early voting locations opened statewide on May 16.

Statewide, New Mexico has now recorded 79,536 ballots cast in the primary election, up from 13,730 ballots reported one week earlier.

Democrats account for 48,140 ballots cast statewide, while Republicans account for 23,942 ballots. DTS voters have cast 7,342 ballots statewide, while voters registered with other parties account for 111 ballots.

Doña Ana County currently ranks fourth statewide in ballots cast, behind Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Sandoval counties.

The latest data also offers an early look at participation in New Mexico’s semi-open primary system, which allows DTS voters to choose either the Democratic or Republican primary.

In Doña Ana County, 438 DTS voters have cast Democratic primary ballots, while 119 DTS voters participated in the Republican primary.

The state’s same-day voter registration system has seen relatively limited use locally so far. As of Friday, 46 voters in Doña Ana County had utilized same-day registration during the primary election period.

Early voting continues through May 30. Primary 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.

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