How to be an Election Watcher With Land of Action
How to be an Election Watcher With Land of Action
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In New Mexico, ordinary people who want to be in the vicinity of polling places to observe and to support voters are called Election Watchers. This is different from working with the Democratic Party as a volunteer at the polls. The official name for party-affiliated volunteers is Election Challenger. There is a third way to be at the polls, as an Election Observer. Election Observers work through national and international human rights and academic organizations.
All three roles are strictly regulated by New Mexico law. You cannot appoint yourself to any election oversight role. Anybody serving in any of the three roles must abide by all laws prohibiting disruption, intimidation, or coercion of voters. Anyone without proper authorization/credentials at a polling place (other than to vote themselves) will be asked to leave.
The NM Secretary of State recommends that people providing voter support and education outside polling places, at the legally required distance of fifty feet, be registered Election Watchers working with an ERO and wearing readily visible identification showing their affiliation with the ERO. This is not a legal requirement. The Secretary of State recommends this to make it easier to work with the County Clerk. Ahead of time, EROs can inform the Clerk that they will have Watchers in and around the polls, who can be identified visually. This way, if the Clerk receives any calls reporting or asking about the ERO's Election Watchers, the Clerk can easily ascertain they are registered Watchers under the auspices of that ERO.
Land of Action is offering grassroots progressive groups and individuals an opportunity to serve as Election Watchers. Other organizations are offering opportunities to be Election Challengers (e.g. the Democratic Party of New Mexico) or Election Observers (Common Cause, ONME).
Comparison of roles and their powers
All information from the NM Secretary of State website.
| Attribute | Election Watcher | Election Challenger | Election Observer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who Appoints | Election-related organizations (registered with SOS) | County chair of each political party represented on the ballot | U.S. Department of State (international observers) OR New Mexico Secretary of State (academic researchers) |
| Notice Requirement | Written notice to SOS at least 7 days prior; Organization must register 70 days before statewide election | Written designation submitted to SOS at least 7 days prior to election | Completed registration form returned to SOS prior to performing duties |
| Voter Qualification | Must be a voter of a precinct in the state (per 1-2-22 NMSA 1978); May watch anywhere in the state. | Must be a voter of the precinct in the county where appointed | Not required to be a state voter (international or academic status suffices) |
| Primary Authority | Monitor polling place procedures and report irregularities. May provide voter education and support at set distance from the polls. | Question voter eligibility and enter polling place to make formal challenges | Observe entire voting process without intervention |
| Can Challenge Voters? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Partisan Nature | ❌ Non-partisan if done via Land of Action | ✅ Partisan (party-appointed) | ❌ Non-partisan (independent monitoring) |
| Can Enter Polling Place? | ✅ Yes (observation only) | ✅ Yes (for challenges only) | ✅ Yes (with proper credentials) |
| Intervention Rights | None (observe only) | Limited to formal eligibility challenges | None (observe and document only) |
| Typical Purpose | Ensure procedural compliance; provide voter support and education at set distance from the polls. | Ensure party has fair representation in voter eligibility verification | Strengthen public trust and election transparency through independent oversight |
| Report Where | Irregularities to presiding judge, SOS, County Clerk | To election officials during challenge proceedings | Findings compiled for public transparency reports |
| Self-Appointed Allowed? | ❌ No - requires proper authorization | ❌ No - requires proper authorization | ❌ No - requires registration |
| Penalties for Misconduct | Same penalties apply to all unauthorized persons | Same penalties apply to all unauthorized persons | Same penalties apply to all unauthorized persons |
Required qualifications to be an Election Watcher
Election Watchers must be registered to vote in New Mexico.
- You cannot be appointed if you:
- Are a candidate;
- Are a spouse, parent, child, domestic partner, brother or sister of any candidate;
- Are married to a parent, child, brother or sister of any candidate;
- Are a candidate’s mother-or father-in-law;
- Have not completed a required training provided by the county clerk prior to the election;
- Have accepted an appointment to serve as an election board member in the same election; or
- Have been removed from service as a challenger, watcher, election observer or county canvass observer in the current or immediately precedng election cycle
Election Watchers must be appointed by an Election-Related Organization (ERO)
- EROs must be registered with the NM Secretary of State.
- This year's deadline to register as an ERO has already passed.
- Land of Action is a registered ERO.
Land of Action and Election Watching
Land of Action (LoA) is providing election-watching opportunities for grassroots progressives, especially those already active in local progressive organizations. If you are willing and able to organize election watching in your community, contact founder@landofaction.org . Give your name and your local group or organization including its location.
As an ERO, Land of Action can register individuals as election watchers with the NM Secretary of State. We will rely on local point persons from any progressive group or community in New Mexico to gather the people in their areas to serve as election watchers.
Local Point Persons - Role and Responsibilities
The Local Point Person for Land of Action Election Watching will:
- identify people in local group or community
- ensure that Land of Action receives the names and other information necessary for individuals to be appointed as Land of Action Election Watchers.
- communicate important information to local Land of Action Election Watchers.
- support their local Land of Action Election Watchers in the voter support and voter education activities the local group decides to engage in, especially by distributing materials from the Free and Fair Elections New Mexico 2026 Campaign.
- organize shifts of local Land of Action Watchers to be present inside polling locations to oversee the conduct of the election and report any irregularities.
- designate one person (self or a deputy) to be the point of contact between local Land of Action Election Watchers and the County Clerk for the locality (county clerk liaison). Land of Action will provide county clerk liaison's with further details.
