Election Day
What Is It?
Election Day is when all polling locations across New Mexico are open for voters to cast their ballots in person. On Election Day, polling locations are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- Most sites are Voter Convenience Centers, meaning any voter in the county can vote at any location in that county.
- Some locations may still be precinct-based, serving only voters assigned to that precinct.
- Same Day Registration is available — voters can register or update their registration and vote on the same day if they have the right ID.
What Are we Observing/Looking For?
On Election Day, we ask our watchers to observe the entire day at the respective voting location they are sent to, to note down what procedures were followed and what happened during opening, set up, the voting process, and closing.
We ask ONME watchers to observe the following during different times:
Opening
- Opening time (scheduled versus actual)
- The number of precinct board members present
- Whether protective counters of tabulation equipment were checked
Set Up
- Instructions and notices posted and in easily visible locations
- Language accessibility in Native languages and Spanish
- Voter check-in and voter identification
- Availability of regular, provisional, and sample ballots
- Availability of accessible voting systems
- Use of electronic versus paper pollbooks
Voting Process
- Language accessibility and accommodations in Native languages and Spanish
- Identifying voters
- Same day voter registration
- Regular, spoiled, provisional, and absentee ballots
- Voters who were turned away, left, or whose eligibility was challenged
- Accessibility accommodations
- Presence of peace officers (if applicable)
Closing of Polls
- Closing time
- Conduct of election officials during closing time including ballot reconciliation and counting
Finally, at each stage, ONME watchers also note the presence of other observers from political party members, members of the public, the media, and others. They are also asked how the other watchers/observers behaved. This includes any notes on disruption, interference, electioneering, harassment, violence, and other behavior that may interfere with the electoral process.
Why Is It Important?
Election Day is the centerpiece of our democracy. It’s when the most voters turn out, and it’s the part of the process that people see most clearly. Running it well builds public trust—not just in one election, but in the system as a whole.
What we found in 2024
What Went Well
- Overall, Election Day was smooth and transparent. Polls opened on time almost everywhere, voting sites were well organized, and election workers followed state procedures.
- Poll workers rose to the challenge. Even in the busiest locations, workers were professional and committed to helping voters. Observers saw many examples of staff finding quick solutions like redirecting voters, offering provisional ballots, or calling ahead when lines grew long.
- Oversight was robust. Democratic and Republican party watchers, media, and nonpartisan observers were present, adding another layer of transparency.
- Voter access was strong. The vast majority of voters were able to cast their ballots without barriers, and observers reported no evidence of fraud, manipulation, or intentional disruption.
Challenges
- Same-day registration was overwhelmed statewide. The demand was higher than expected, creating long lines and, in some cases, leading voters to leave without voting.
- Provisional Ballots were not always available: At several locations, voters who should have been offered a provisional ballot were told none were available. In one case, an election judge said provisional ballots were “obsolete” because same-day registration existed.
- Language access was uneven. While Spanish was usually available, Native language support was not consistently provided, even in counties where it is required by federal law.
- Accessible voting machines were sometimes left untested. Not every site checked these systems before opening.
- Some voters were asked for ID incorrectly. This happened in a few locations, even though it is not required for already-registered voters.
Contact Us
The mission of Observe New Mexico Elections is to increase transparency and trust in New Mexico’s elections by training and deploying nonpartisan election observers throughout the state. Observers will report on how election laws and procedures are followed, representing all voters without interfering in the electoral process. Findings from their observations will be compiled to assess the overall quality of elections in New Mexico.