Only County Commission District 3 has a qualified write-in candidate, and voters elsewhere will not see a write-in option on their ballots.

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - The Doña Ana County Clerk's Office is warning voters that only one qualified write-in candidate is eligible to receive votes in the Nov. 3 general election, following social media posts encouraging voters to write in candidates for other races.

The sole qualified write-in candidate is running for Doña Ana County Commission District 3, according to an Oct. 28 announcement from the Clerk's Office. Only voters residing in that district will see a write-in option for the race on their ballots.

No other races in Doña Ana County have qualified write-in candidates, meaning voters elsewhere will not see write-in lines on their ballots.

The clarification comes as early voting enters its final days ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

How write-in voting works

New Mexico law does not allow voters to cast a valid write-in vote for just anyone whose name they choose to enter on a ballot.

Under Section 1-8-66 of the New Mexico Election Code, prospective general election write-in candidates must file a declaration of intent by the statutory deadline and be determined qualified by the appropriate filing officer.

State law also prohibits someone who ran or filed a declaration of candidacy in the immediately preceding primary election from becoming a write-in candidate in the general election.

That means social media campaigns encouraging voters to write in names do not make those individuals qualified candidates.

The Clerk's Office is encouraging voters to rely on official election information and verify claims before sharing them online, warning that incorrect posts can create confusion even when circulated with good intentions.

Voters can check which candidates and ballot questions apply to them by viewing their personalized sample ballot at NMVote.gov. The sample ballot will also show whether a write-in line is available in a particular race.

Early voting ends Saturday

Early voting concludes Saturday, Oct. 31, at all Doña Ana County locations.

The Doña Ana County Government Center, 845 N. Motel Blvd. in Las Cruces, is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 31, voting there will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Eight expanded early voting locations are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those sites began operating Oct. 17 and will also close for early voting Oct. 31.

Voters can find addresses and additional information through the Doña Ana County Elections Bureau.

Same-day voter registration is available at early voting locations and Election Day voting centers.

Election Day is Nov. 3

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Doña Ana County voters may cast their ballots at any of the county's 42 voting convenience centers.

Completed absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. Election Day. Voters may return them to an authorized secured ballot container, a voting location or the County Clerk's Office.

For questions about write-in voting, sample ballots, registration or polling locations, contact the Doña Ana County Clerk's Office at 575-647-7428 or visit DACElections.com.

The Clerk's Office is urging voters to consult official election information rather than relying on unverified social media posts when deciding how to cast their ballots.