A large number of New Mexicans voted in early 2024

58,010 ballots were cast during the early voting period in Doña Ana County

Early voting is up in the state of New Mexico, but has yet to reach the pandemic-era 2020 general election.

663,874 ballots were cast during the early voting period, which ended on November 2, 2024. In 2020, there were 785,789.

In 2020, there were 928,230 ballots, which represented a turnout of 68.67%. There are 1,375,962 registered voters ahead of the 2024 general election, although same-day registration is available statewide.

Democrats polled 307,311 early statewide, Republicans 243,376 and voters who declined to declare a party affiliation 104,904. 107,848 absentee ballots were requested statewide. The last day to request a postal/absentee ballot was October 22, 2024.

In 2020, 384,218 Democrats voted during the early voting period, followed by 270,829 Republicans and 119,517 voters who declined to declare a party affiliation.

There were 329,533 absentee voters in 2020, with a significant majority of 201,261 absentee Democrats compared to 71,452 Republicans. For 2024, 63,464 registered Democrats requested an absentee ballot and 25,249 Republicans requested an absentee ballot.

There was a significant increase in Republicans using same-day voter registration during the early voting period. There were 11,165 Republicans who used same-day registration for the 2024 general election, compared to 3,308 for the 2020 general election.

Doña Ana County tops recent general election totals

Doña Ana County’s early voter turnout was the highest in a general election, with the presidential election at the top of the ticket, according to data posted on the New Mexico Secretary of State’s website, which has been publishing election results since 1990.

There were 58,010 ballots cast in Doña Ana County (42% of eligible voters). Of those, 27,232 were from Democrats and 19,058 from Republicans. Completing the list, 11,029 did not declare, 494 were from the Libertarians and 197 had other party affiliations. 9,148 ballots were requested from the residents of Doña Ana County.

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By comparison, in 2020, there were 82,959 ballots (64.42% of eligible voters) cast in Doña Ana County. There were 40,239 county residents who voted early and 27,806 who voted absentee during the pandemic, where only 14,908 residents voted on Election Day.

In 2016, there were 71,084 ballots (62.45% of eligible voters) cast in Doña Ana County. There were 40,460 county residents who voted early, 3,456 who voted absentee and 27,168 residents voted on Election Day.

In 2012, there were 66,496 ballots in Doña Ana County. There were 31,252 county residents who voted early, 3,540 who voted absentee and 31,704 residents voted on Election Day.

In 2008, there were 69,658 ballots in Doña Ana County. There were 32,520 county residents who voted early, 7,632 who voted absentee and 29,506 residents voted on Election Day.

In the first general election to include the president posted on the Secretary of State’s website, 45,842 county residents voted in 1992, 41,718 voted in person and 4,124 voted absentee.

Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or [email protected]. Follow X @jpgroves.