New election law expands voting access in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A state law that took effect this year has a big impact on voter registration, and who gets to vote.

Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover says the changes strengthen the election process.

“Today is National Voter Registration Day,” Stover said. “It’s a day set aside in September nationally – not a holiday – but is set aside so first-time voters can register to vote because we have an election coming in November.”

City councilors, school board members, and infrastructure projects will be on the upcoming ballot.

The governor signed House Bill 4, also known as the Voting Rights Protections Act, into law in March. It does a number of things when it comes to voter registration.

First, it automatically registers voters through the state’s MVD. It also mandates same-day voter registration at polling places.

Those who were previously incarcerated will automatically get their voting rights back after their sentence.

The legislation also created a permanent absentee ballot list, allowing eligible voters to opt-in to automatically receive mail-in ballots.

If you want to check if you are registered to vote, click here.