Kirtland Afb, New Mexico Public Records

The New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act provides the legal framework governing access to these documents, establishing standards for transparency and making sure of the public can obtain government records.

Registration must be completed 28 days before any election. Voters need to provide either a New Mexico driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, and new registrants may be required to show proof of identity and residency. Military personnel stationed at the base have the option to register using their on-base address or keep their registration at their home of record. Because Kirtland Air Force Base operates as a federal military installation rather than an incorporated municipality, there are no city-level elections for mayor or city council specific to the installation. Instead, residents participate in Bernalillo County, New Mexico state, and federal elections. County races include the Board of County Commissioners (five districts), County Sheriff, County Clerk, County Treasurer, County Assessor, and other county offices, typically held during general elections in November of even-numbered years. Voters from the base can locate their assigned polling location using the Polling Place Lookup tool on the Secretary of State's website at nmvote.org or by contacting the Bernalillo County Clerk's office. New Mexico offers early voting at various locations throughout Bernalillo County beginning 28 days before Election Day and continuing through the Saturday before the election. Under New Mexico's Inspection of Public Records Act (NMSA 14-2-1), certain election records are public, including voter registration lists (with some personal information redacted), campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State, candidate declarations and petition signatures, precinct-level election results, and sample ballots. These records can be accessed through the Bernalillo County Clerk or the Secretary of State's website. In the November 2024 presidential election, Bernalillo County recorded approximately 64% voter turnout with roughly 270,000 ballots cast out of approximately 420,000 registered voters, reflecting strong engagement throughout the area. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, voters at the base and across Bernalillo County will decide several significant races. New Mexico's gubernatorial election will be held in 2026, as governors serve four-year terms and the position was last elected in 2022. All three of New Mexico's U.S. House seats will be on the ballot, including District 1 which covers the Albuquerque metro area including the installation. The entire New Mexico House of Representatives (70 seats) and half of the New Mexico Senate (21 of 42 seats) will be elected for two-year and four-year terms respectively. Bernalillo County offices up for election in 2026 include County Commission districts with expiring terms, County Clerk, County Treasurer, and potentially County Assessor depending on the election cycle. New Mexico offers convenient absentee voting options. Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Requests can be submitted online through the Bernalillo County Clerk's portal, by mail, in person, or by phone beginning 90 days before the election. Absentee ballot applications must be received by 5:00 PM on the Thursday before Election Day, though earlier requests are encouraged. Completed ballots must be returned by 7:00 PM on Election Day either by mail (postmark does not count), at secure drop boxes located throughout Bernalillo County, or in person at the Bernalillo County Clerk's office or any early voting or Election Day polling location. Military and overseas voters have additional protections under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and can use the Federal Post Card Application to register and request absentee ballots.