Costilla, New Mexico Public Records

Voters must provide a New Mexico driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The state also offers same-day registration during early voting with proof of residency. Because the community is unincorporated with no municipal government, residents don't vote for city council or mayoral positions. Instead, they participate in Taos County, state, and federal elections. County races include a three-member Board of County Commissioners (one seat every two years on a rotating basis), Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, and Probate Judge. Residents also elect representatives to the New Mexico Legislature, with the area currently in Senate District 6 and House District 42. To find their assigned polling place, voters can use the New Mexico Voter View portal at https://voterview.sos.state.nm.us by entering their name and date of birth; the system displays registration status, polling location, sample ballots, and election information. In the November 2024 presidential election, Taos County reported approximately 62% voter turnout with around 12,500 ballots cast out of roughly 20,000 registered voters; the county historically leans Democratic. For the November 3, 2026 general election, New Mexico voters will decide races including all three U.S. House seats (New Mexico has no U.S. Senate seat up in 2026), all 70 state House seats for two-year terms, and potentially some County Commission seats depending on the district rotation. Statewide offices are not up in 2026 as the Governor and other constitutional officers were elected in 2022 for four-year terms. New Mexico allows no-excuse absentee voting; any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot through the Taos County Clerk by completing an Absentee Ballot Request Form available at www.taoscounty.org/clerk or by calling (575) 737-6380. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the Thursday before Election Day, though earlier requests are encouraged. The state also offers early voting, typically beginning 28 days before Election Day at designated convenience centers; residents can vote early at locations in Taos and sometimes at the Questa Public Library. Public election records in New Mexico include voter registration lists (available for purchase by campaigns and political organizations), campaign finance reports searchable at www.cfis.state.nm.us, candidate filings with the Secretary of State, and precinct-level election results published by the Taos County Clerk and Secretary of State after each election at www.sos.state.nm.us. Under New Mexico law (NMSA 1978, Section 1-4-5.5), voter registration information including names, addresses, and party affiliation is public, though dates of birth and Social Security numbers are confidential.