Tijeras, New Mexico Public Records

New Mexico residents can register online through the Secretary of State's Voter Portal at portal.sos.state.nm.us, or do it in person at the Bernalillo County Clerk's office, MVD locations, or designated voter registration agencies. The deadline is 28 days before any election, though the state offers same-day registration during early voting and on Election Day at voting convenience centers. Registration requires a New Mexico driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. First-time voters who register by mail must show identification when casting their first ballot. To register, you must be a U.S. Citizen, at least 18 by Election Day, and a resident of both New Mexico and the county where you're registering. Because the village is unincorporated, there are no municipal elections for mayor or council members here. Instead, residents vote in Bernalillo County races for County Commission - District 2 represents the East Mountains including Tijeras - along with Sheriff, County Clerk, County Assessor, and other countywide positions. Commission seats carry four-year staggered terms. Voters also participate in state legislative elections for the New Mexico House and Senate. The village falls within House District 42 and Senate District 15, though those boundaries should be verified since redistricting followed the 2020 census. To locate their polling place or voting convenience center, residents can use the New Mexico Voter Portal at portal.sos.state.nm.us by entering their name and date of birth or address. Bernalillo County uses a convenience center model for both early voting and Election Day, meaning any registered voter can cast a ballot at any designated location county-wide rather than being restricted to a single precinct. Many from Tijeras vote at East Mountain High School or other nearby East Mountain sites, but any Bernalillo County location works. Early voting typically opens three weeks before Election Day and includes weekends. Election records available to the public in New Mexico include the voter registration file with certain personal details redacted, campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State, candidate declarations and petitions, precinct-level results, and absentee ballot statistics. These can be accessed through the Secretary of State's website at www.sos.state.nm.us or requested from the Bernalillo County Clerk under IPRA. Voter history - showing whether someone voted but not how - is part of the public file.Current federal, state, and local election schedules, ballot contests, candidate filings, and certified results for Tijeras voters are published by the New Mexico Secretary of State Elections (https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/). The U.S. Senate race in 2026 involves the seat currently held by Martin Heinrich, a Class 1 seat. The entire New Mexico House of Representatives - all 70 seats with two-year terms - and half of the State Senate - 21 of 42 seats on four-year staggered terms - will be elected. County voters will also elect various county officers depending on the cycle, potentially including Sheriff, County Clerk, County Assessor, County Treasurer, and County Commission seats. Judicial retention elections for Court of Appeals and District Court judges may appear as well. Candidate filing typically happens in March of election years, with primaries in June and the general election the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. New Mexico offers absentee voting by mail to any registered voter without requiring an excuse. Ballots can be requested online through the Secretary of State's Voter Portal, by mail, or in person at the Bernalillo County Clerk's office. For the general election, absentee ballot requests must arrive by the Thursday before Election Day, though requesting earlier is wise. Completed ballots must be returned by 7:00 p.m. On Election Day - postmarks don't count, as the ballot must be received. Voters can return them by mail, in person at the Bernalillo County Clerk's office, or at any ballot drop box or voting location. Bernalillo County maintains secure drop boxes throughout Bernalillo County, including sites in the East Mountains, which are monitored and emptied regularly during the election period.