The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office, working with the Taxation and Revenue Department’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), has launched automatic voter registration (AVR) at all MVD locations in the state. The program began on July 1, 2025, and has resulted in 8,487 New Mexicans registering to vote or updating their registrations within the first week.
Previously, MVD customers could choose to register or update their voter information during transactions. With the new system, eligible individuals are automatically registered when they renew or apply for a driver’s license or other credential. Changes to name or address at the MVD now trigger updates to existing voter registrations.
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver said, “This is a major step forward for voter access and election modernization in New Mexico. AVR makes voter registration faster, more accurate, and more secure. By reducing paperwork and ensuring more eligible voters are on the rolls, we’re saving taxpayer money and making our democracy more accessible, all while keeping New Mexico’s best-in-the-nation elections safe and secure.”
The system screens out individuals who are not eligible under state law—such as non-U.S. citizens or those under 18—and these customers will not be registered. Those who complete registration will receive a mailer from their county clerk with instructions on how to change political affiliation or opt out if desired.
Stephanie Schardin Clarke, Secretary of Taxation and Revenue, stated: “Modernizing government services is a key priority for our department, and AVR is a perfect example of technology enhancing the customer experience. We’re proud to partner with the Secretary of State’s Office to implement this efficient and secure solution.”
Automatic voter registration was included in the New Mexico Voting Rights Act passed in 2023. More than two dozen states plus Washington D.C. have adopted some form of AVR; early results from states such as Minnesota have shown benefits like reduced polling place lines, greater accuracy in registration records, and better access for groups that have been underrepresented.
To be registered through AVR at an MVD office in New Mexico, customers must be U.S. citizens, residents of New Mexico, and at least 18 years old by the next election.
Further details about automatic voter registration can be found on the Secretary of State’s website at sos.nm.gov/avr.
