Early Voting Begins Tuesday as Doña Ana County Enters General Election Season

Doña Ana County voters can begin casting ballots in the 2026 General Election on Tuesday, Oct. 6, beginning a month of early voting, candidate forums and other election activities leading to Election Day on Nov. 3.

Before early voting begins, the Doña Ana County Clerk’s Office will make one final pre-election visit to the Farmers and Crafts Market of Las Cruces on Saturday.

Clerk’s Office staff will be at the market from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., where residents can register to vote or update their registration, obtain information about the upcoming election and ask election-related questions.

Early voting starts Oct. 6

Early voting begins Tuesday at the Doña Ana County Government Center, 845 N. Motel Blvd. in Las Cruces.

Voting will be available there Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 30. The Government Center will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The Government Center will reopen for the final day of early voting Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Expanded early voting begins Oct. 17, with locations in Anthony, Chaparral, Hatch, Las Cruces, Mesilla and Sunland Park. Those locations will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Oct. 31.

The Clerk’s Office is also providing information for voters about identification requirements, same-day voter registration and absentee voting.

Absentee ballots may be returned to the County Clerk’s Office, an early voting or Election Day voting location, or one of the county’s secured absentee ballot containers.

House candidates invited to Oct. 6 forum

The first day of early voting will also bring a public candidate forum featuring contested New Mexico House races in Doña Ana County.

The League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico and Temple Beth-El of Las Cruces will host the forum at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Temple Beth-El, 3980 Sonoma Springs Ave.

Candidates invited to participate, listed in ballot order by the League, are:

• House District 33: Micaela Lara Cadena, Democrat, and Enrique Kiki Vigil, Republican
• House District 36: Julia E. Ruiz, Republican, and Nathan P. Small, Democrat
• House District 37: Lori A. Martinez, Democrat, and Isabella Solis, Republican
• House District 53: Ben Luna Jr., Republican, and Sarah Angelina Silva, Democrat

District 53 also extends into Otero County.

Ned Ruben of Temple Beth-El will moderate the forum. Questions will come from the two sponsoring organizations, and audience members will be able to submit written questions.

A short reception is planned after the forum to give attendees an opportunity to visit with candidates. Security will be present.

“This is a great opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates,” League organizer Terri Sugarman said. “The forum will help voters learn about the candidates’ backgrounds, experiences, and how they would address community issues.”

The League and Temple Beth-El are nonpartisan organizations, Sugarman said.

Another candidate forum originally scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, will be rescheduled for later in October to allow additional candidates to participate.

Election Day is Nov. 3

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Doña Ana County plans to operate 42 voting locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voter registration, including same-day registration, remains available through Election Day.

The League directs voters to Vote411 for voter registration information, candidate profiles and responses to League questions, absentee ballot information and races throughout New Mexico.

Additional local election information, voting locations and election dates are available through the Doña Ana County Clerk’s Office at DACElections.com.