Did you know? Independent and minor-party voters – who comprise nearly 25 percent of New Mexico’s electorate – are ineligible to vote in our publicly funded primary elections.

By limiting primary participation to registered Democrats and Republicans, our closed-primary system disenfranchises over 300,000 voters.

At New Mexico Open Elections, we’re working toward a better solution.

This year, state legislators will consider measures to open our primaries to ALL registered voters. Here’s how the semi-open primary model benefits New Mexico:

  • By allowing independent and minor-party voters to cast a ballot in either party’s primary contest, we give ALL registered New Mexicans a voice.
  • Including these voters diversifies the electorate, which invites a more politically diverse slate of candidates.
  • Research suggests Semi-Open Primaries improve turnout, as more voters are welcomed into the process.
  • We believe opening primaries to independents will help decrease the scourge of political polarization, as candidates strive to appeal to a broader cross-section of voters.

In 2023, the NM Senate passed a semi-open Primary bill with broad, bipartisan support, but the measure failed in the House. This year, we need YOUR help to bring change to New Mexico. Call your representatives today and tell them you support semi-open primaries for New Mexico and the open-primaries movement.

Want to learn more?

Check out our open primaries issue page for a deeper dive. 

Who We Are

New Mexico Open Elections is a nonprofit organization founded in 2015. Our mission is to educate and inform voters and their elected officials with reliable information about election reform in order to improve our political system for all New Mexicans. Learn more about the issues. 

Join Us

Visit our Get Involved site to learn about how to stay engaged, from joining our email list to volunteering to attending future events.

Help Strengthen Our Democracy. Donate Now.

All citizens deserve a voice in our democratic processes. Give now to help make semi-open primaries a reality in New Mexico.