The following positions were up for election in 2023:
- Mayor
- District 1 Councilor
- District 2 Councilor
- District 4 Councilor
- Municipal Judge I
2023 Local Election Contest/Local Candidate List
Candidate Forms
Declaration of Candidacy forms are available through the Secretary of State’s website and can be found here Candidate FormsCandidate Forms. Candidate filing day is August 29, 2023, and will occur at the Dona Ana County Clerk’s Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you are not able to file in person, a Designation of Authorization form must be filed along with a Declaration of Candidacy form.
The Candidate Disclosure Form is due in the City Clerk’s Office upon filing the Declaration of Candidacy with the Dona Ana County Clerk’s Office.
Those individuals running for the Municipal Judge I position must provide a copy of current license to practice law in New Mexico and be a active member in good standing with the New Mexico State Bar Association.
Campaign Finance
The Campaign Finance Portal can be accessed here. All candidates must designate a treasurer by filling out the Designation of Campaign Treasurer form.
Campaign Finance Filing Dates for 2023:
First report due date is September 26, 2023.
Second report due date is October 26, 2023.
Third report due date (or close out for nonelected officials) is December 7, 2023.
Six month report due date for elected officials is May 7, 2024.
2021 Candidate submissions can be viewed in this folder.
Fill the Close Out Affidavit when all campaign funds have been expended. This form should be notarized and turned into the City Clerk.
Information on the Rules
All City Codes, including those related to elections, can be searched and read on MuniCode. Particularly relevant are the sections on filing finance reports and political signs. Any violations related to signage can be reported to the LCPD Codes Enforcement at 575-528-4100
Regulations for Poll Watchers and Observers are regulated by New Mexico State Statute Section 1-2-29.
Las Cruces City Charter and current FY budget are both available online.
A map of the City Districts is available online. A new district map was approved by Council in 2022.
Welcome to our guide on Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) – A Fairer Way to Vote!
Ranked Choice Voting, also known as instant-runoff voting, is an electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Unlike traditional “first-past-the-post” voting systems, where voters choose a single candidate, RCV allows for a more nuanced expression of preferences, promoting a fairer and more democratic representation of the electorate’s will.
In RCV, voters rank candidates by assigning them a numerical order based on their preferences, typically from first choice to last choice. If no candidate receives an absolute majority of first-choice votes, a series of runoffs occur, eliminating the least popular candidates and redistributing their votes to the remaining candidates according to voters’ subsequent choices. This process continues until a candidate achieves the majority of votes and is declared the winner.
The video below gives a more in depth explanation on how Ranked Choice Voting works:
More information about Ranked Choice Voting can be found from Common Cause at RCVNM.com.
Most nonvoters don’t plan on not voting: they just didn’t plan to vote. The more specific of a plan you make to vote, the more likely you are to vote. Your plan should include all those ‘W Questions’ you learned in school.
- When are you going to vote?
- Where are you going to vote?
- How are you going to get there?
- Who are you going to vote for?
- How are you going to research your vote?
- What do you need to bring with you?
- Do you need assistance voting due to a disability?
- Will you need to arrange childcare or a ride?
1. Verify your Voter Registration
Whether you need to update your address, change your name, or register to vote for the first time, your first stop is always going to be the Secretary of State’s Voter Portal. Even if you think everything is up-to-date, it never hurts to double check.
2. Decide when you want to vote
Your options are to…
- Vote by mail: Voting by mail gives you more time to vote in the comfort of your own home, no need to arrange transportation, child care, or time off work. Voting by mail is safe, secure, and private. You can request an absentee ballot and track the current status of your absentee vote online or by contacting the Doña Ana County Clerk’s office. All voted absentee ballots must be received by the County Clerk’s office by 7 pm on Election Day.
- Vote early: Voting early gives you more flexibility on when you vote, with weekend and evening hours available.
- Vote on election day: On Election Day polls are open 7 am to 7 pm. Questions can be directed to the County Clerk’s office at 575-647-7428.
Whichever option you choose, be specific in your plan by asking yourself when, where, and how you’re getting there.
3. Be a part of your community
Being a voter is part of being a community. How can you help your community participate?
- Let a neighbor know they can register to vote or request an absentee ballot online
- Offer someone a ride to the polls
- Watch your friends’ kids while they go and vote
- Text your friend to remind them to vote
- Take someone with you when you vote
- Share on social media that you voted
