Democrats accounted for most ballots cast locally during the opening days of voting, while absentee ballot requests climbed into the thousands statewide ahead of the June 2 primary

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - More than 600 ballots had already been cast in Doña Ana County during the opening days of New Mexico’s 2026 primary election, according to new voter participation data released Friday by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

As of May 8, Doña Ana County recorded 675 total votes cast through early and absentee voting combined. Democrats accounted for 468 of those votes, compared with 136 Republican ballots and 71 from decline-to-state voters.

Most ballots cast so far came through in-person early voting rather than absentee voting. State data showed Doña Ana County voters had cast 658 early in-person ballots and 18 absentee ballots as of Friday morning.

The statewide numbers show a similar trend.

Across New Mexico, Democrats accounted for 3,863 ballots cast so far, compared with 2,417 Republican ballots and 664 from decline-to-state voters. Election Day voting has not yet begun.

The Secretary of State’s Office also released absentee ballot request totals, which suggest significantly larger participation may still be ahead as the June 2 primary approaches.

Statewide, Bernalillo County led all counties with 26,758 absentee ballot requests. Doña Ana County recorded 3,641 absentee ballot requests, including 2,458 from Democrats and 947 from Republicans.

Same-day voter registration activity remained relatively low statewide during the first days of voting. The separate same-day registration report showed only limited participation across most counties as of Friday.

Under New Mexico law, voters can still register through same-day voter registration at county clerk offices and participating polling locations even after the standard voter registration deadline passed May 5.

Expanded early voting locations across New Mexico are scheduled to open May 16. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is May 19.

Primary Election Day is June 2. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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.