LAS CRUCES — As early voting winds down, the Doña Ana County Clerk’s Office is reminding residents that only one qualified write‑in candidate will appear on the ballot for the November 3 general election. The candidate is running for County Commission District 3, and only voters who reside in that district will see a write‑in option.

State law limits write‑in eligibility

New Mexico law requires any prospective general‑election write‑in candidate to file a declaration of intent by the statutory deadline and to be deemed qualified by the appropriate filing officer, according to Section 1‑8‑66 of the New Mexico Election Code. The law also bars anyone who ran or filed a declaration of candidacy in the immediately preceding primary from becoming a write‑in candidate in the general election.

Social‑media posts do not create qualified candidates

Recent social‑media campaigns encouraging voters to write in names for various races do not meet the legal requirements. The Clerk’s Office stresses that such posts can cause confusion, even when well‑intentioned, because only candidates who have completed the filing process are eligible to receive write‑in votes.

How voters can verify ballot information

Voters are urged to consult official election resources before sharing or acting on unverified information. The personalized sample ballot available at NMVote.gov will show whether a write‑in line appears for a given race. Early voting ends on Saturday, Oct. 31, at all Doña Ana County locations.

The County Government Center at 845 N. Motel Blvd. in Las Cruces is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eight additional early‑voting sites operate Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will close on Oct. 31.

Polling locations and absentee voting

On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Doña Ana County voters may cast their ballots at any of the county’s 42 voting convenience centers. Same‑day voter registration is available at early‑voting sites and Election Day voting centers. Completed absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day and can be returned to an authorized secured ballot container, a voting location, or the County Clerk’s Office.

For questions about write‑in voting, sample ballots, registration, or polling locations, residents can call the Clerk’s Office at 575‑647‑7428 or visit DACElections.com.

Original reporting: Organ Mountain News (Las Cruces / Doña Ana County) — read the source article.