Candidate Calendar for the 2025 Regular Local Election
A listing of dates and deadlines for the 2023 Regular Local Election.
This calendar is subject to change. Check back regularly for updates.
Important Timeframes for Mayoral Candidates
| Item | Beginning Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploratory Period | March 3, 2025 | April 18, 2025 |
| Seed Money Period | March 3, 2025 | June 21, 2025 |
| Qualifying Contribution Period | April 19, 2025 | June 21, 2025 |
| Petition Period | April 19, 2025 | June 21, 2025 |
| Early Voting | October 18, 2025 | November 1, 2025 |
| Election Day | November 4, 2025 | November 4, 2025 |
Important Timeframes for City Council Candidates
| Item | Beginning Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploratory Period | April 27, 2025 | June 1, 2025 |
| Seed Money Period | April 27, 2025 | July 7, 2025 |
| Qualifying Contribution Period | June 2, 2025 | July 7, 2025 |
| Petition Period | June 2, 2025 | July 7, 2025 |
| Early Voting | October 18, 2025 | November 1, 2025 |
| Election Day | November 4, 2025 | November 4, 2025 |
General Election Key Dates
| Date | Activity, Requirement or Deadline |
|---|---|
| Mon. March 3 | First day of Public Financing Exploratory Period for Mayoral Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 3(I)). Exploratory Period begins on March 3 and ends on April 18. |
|
On or before Mon. March 3 |
First day or Mayoral Candidates to submit Declaration of Intent to seek public financing. A Declaration of Intent to seek public financing must be filed with the City Clerk prior to the end of the Qualifying Period. (City Charter Article XVI, § 4(B)).
In order to File the Declaration of Intent, the applicant candidate must schedule an appointment with the City Clerk at least one day prior to filing. The Clerk will review the public finance process with the applicant candidate and provide the Declaration of Intent for public financing. The Declaration of Intent shall specify that the candidate has not, within one year prior to the declaration, raised or expended any monies in excess of the pre-and post-Exploratory Period contribution limits with the intent or effect of campaigning for elected office. (City Charter Article XVI, § 4(D)). |
| Mon. April 14 |
First Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. First campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)) |
| Fri. April 18 | Last day of Public Financing Exploratory Period for Mayoral Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 3(I)). |
| Sat. April 19 | First day of Public Financing Qualifying Period for Mayoral Candidates. Qualifying Period begins on April 19 and ends on June 21. (City Charter Article XVI, § 3(T)). |
| Sat. April 19 | First day for Mayoral Candidates to collect signatures for Petitions. Mayoral Candidates must gather the signatures of 3,000 registered City voters. (City Charter Article II, § 4). Petition Signature Period for Mayoral candidates begins on April 19 and ends on June 21. (ROA 1994, § 2-4-10(B)). |
| Tues. April 22 & every Tuesday thereafter by noon. | Weekly return of petitions and qualifying contributions. Returns of petitions and qualifying contributions shall be made every subsequent Tuesday by noon. Subsequent Tuesdays are not noted on this calendar. Petition signatures that have not been submitted to the City Clerk within the timeframes set, are invalid and cannot be considered in any determination of candidate qualifications. (ROA 1994, § 2-4-10(C)). |
|
Sun. April 27 |
First day of Public Financing Exploratory Period for Council Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 3(I)). City Council Exploratory Period begins on April 27 and ends on June 1. |
|
On or before Sun. April 27 |
First day for Council Candidates to submit Declaration of Intent to seek public financing. Council Candidates may file their intent to seek public financing at any point on or before April 27 until the Qualifying Period ends. In order to File the Declaration of Intent, the applicant candidate must schedule an appointment with the City Clerk at least one day prior to filing. The Clerk will review the public finance process with the candidate and provide the Declaration of Intent for public financing.The Declaration of Intent shall specify that the candidate has not, within one year prior to the declaration, raised or expended any monies in excess of the pre-and post-Exploratory Period contribution limits with the intent or effect of campaigning for elected office. (City Charter Article XVI, § 4(D)). |
| Mon, May 12 | Second Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. Second campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)). |
| Mon, May 12 |
Biannual Disclosure Statement due for elected officials**. Elected officials must report all contributions and expenditures made and contributions received on or before the first Monday in May and not previously reported. The online reporting statement must be filed (posted) no later than 5:00pm. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(c)(2)(A)). **In an election year, rather than filing biannual disclosure statements, reporting individuals who are candidates for office shall file campaign disclosure statements. |
| Sun, June 1 | Last day of Public Financing Exploratory Period for Council Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 3(I)). |
| Mon, June 2 | First day of Public Financing Qualifying Period for Council Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 3(T)). Qualifying Period begins on June 2 and ends on July 7. |
| Mon, June 2 | First day for Council Candidates to collect signatures for Petitions. Candidates must gather the signatures of 500 voters registered in the district the candidate wishes to represent. (City Charter Article II, § 4 and ROA 1994, § 2-4-13); Petition Signature Period for City Council candidates is from June 2 – July 7 (§2-4-10(B)) |
| Mon, June 9 |
Third Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. Third campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)). |
| Sat, June 21 | Last day of Public Financing Qualifying Period for Mayor Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 3(T)) |
| Sat, June 21 | 5:00pm Deadline for Mayoral Candidates to submit Petitions to the Office of the City Clerk containing the signatures of 3,000 registered City voters.(ROA 1994, § 2-4-10(B)-(C)). Candidates may submit their Declaration of Candidacy form to the City Clerk at this time. |
| Sat, June 21 | Deadline for Mayoral Applicant Candidates to submit their Application for Certification to the City Clerk. |
| Tues, July 1 | Deadline for Mayoral Applicant Candidates to return unused Qualifying Contribution Receipt Books to the Office of the City Clerk. |
| Sat. July 5 |
Declaration of Candidacy for Mayoral Publicly Financed Candidates Deadline for Mayoral Applicant Candidates to file their Declarations of Candidacy with the City Clerk. The City Clerk will submit petitions and Declaration to the County Clerk. The County Clerk shall notify the City Clerk within 3 days if the candidate is qualified. (NMSA 1978, § 1-22-3.2(D)(3)). |
| Mon. July 7 | Last day of Public Financing Qualifying Period for Council Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 3(T)) |
| Mon. July 7 | 5:00pm Deadline for Council Candidates to submit Petitions to the Office of the City Clerk containing the signatures of 500 registered City voters.(ROA 1994, § 2-4-10(B)-(C)). Candidates may submit their Declaration of Candidacy form with the City Clerk at this time. |
| Mon. July 7 | Deadline for Council Applicant Candidates to submit their Application for Certification to the City Clerk. |
| Fri. July 11 | Deadline for City Clerk to certify Mayoral Applicant Candidates meeting the requirements of the Open and Ethical Elections Code as Participating Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 7(B)). |
| Mon. July 14 | Following certification, the City Clerk distributes funds to Participating Mayoral Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 12(A)). The distribution is completed electronically between the City Treasurer and the candidate’s financial institution. The banking process can take several business days to complete. |
| Mon. July 14 | Fourth Campaign Disclosure Statement Due.Fourth campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)). |
| Thurs. July 17 | Deadline for Unopposed Participating Mayoral Candidates to return public financing funds to the City Clerk.(City Charter Article XVI, §12(H)) |
| Thurs. July 17 | Deadline for Council Applicant Candidates to return unused Qualifying Contribution Receipt Books to the Office of the City Clerk. |
| Mon. Jul 21 |
Declaration of Candidacy for Council Publicly Financed Candidates. Deadline for Council Applicant Candidates to file their Declarations of Candidacy with the City Clerk. The City Clerk will submit petitions and Declaration to the County Clerk. The County Clerk shall notify the City Clerk within 3 days if the candidate is qualified. (NMSA 1978, § 1-22-3.2(D)(3)). |
| Sun. July 27 | Deadline for City Clerk to certify Council Applicant Candidates meeting the requirements of the Open and Ethical Elections Code as Participating Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 7(B)). |
| Wed. July 30 | Following certification, the City Clerk distributes funds to Participating Council Candidates. (City Charter Article XVI, § 12(A)). The distribution is completed electronically between the City Treasurer and the candidate’s financial institution. The banking process can take several business days to complete. |
| Mon. Aug 4 | Deadline for Participating Council Candidates to return public financing funds to the City Clerk.(City Charter Article XVI, §12(H)). In the event that a Candidate’s certification has been challenged, the City Clerk shall distribute funds to the Participating Council Candidate within three business days of receiving notice that the certification and/or qualification by the County Clerk as Candidate has been upheld. |
| Mon. Aug 11 | Fifth Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. Fifth campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)). |
| Tues. Aug 26 | Declaration of Candidacy for Privately Financed Candidates. Privately Financed Candidates must file their Declarations of Candidacy with the County Clerk between 9:00am and 5:00pm. (NMSA 1978, § 1-22-7(A)). |
| Tues. Aug 26 | Deadline for Candidates to File Financial Statement. Each candidate shall file a financial disclosure with the City Clerk setting forth a listing of the candidate’s memberships and positions, if any, in professional organizations, and any source of income that accounts for 5% or more of the candidate's total income, and any known present business relationships the candidate has or may have with the city, and any and all real estate interests held by the candidate within Bernalillo County, excluding the candidates' home. (City Charter Article XIII, § 3). |
| Tues. Sept 2 | Withdrawal of Candidacy by 5:00pm. Last day for certified candidates to withdraw candidacy with the County Clerk. (NMSA 1978, § 1-10-6(D)). |
| Tues. Sept 2 |
Filing day for Write-in Candidates Candidates must file with the County Clerk between 9:00am and 5:00pm. (NMSA 1978, § 1-22-8.1). |
| Fri. Sept 5 | First day candidates may display temporary signs.(ROA 1994 IDO, § 14-16-5-12(I)(2)(c)). Temporary signs may be displayed 60 days before an election and 10 days after the election. |
| Mon. Sept 8 | Sixth Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. Sixth campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(c)(2)(B)) |
| Sat. Sept 20 | County Clerk shall transmit ballots to all federally qualified electors whose applications have been accepted up to and on this day. (NMSA 1978, § 1-6B-7(A). Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act is commonly referred to as UOCAVA- MOVE ACT (45 days before the election). Must be done on this day regardless of weekend or holiday. |
| Tues. Oct 7 |
Absentee Ballots and In-Person Absentee Voting. First day for County Clerk to issue absentee ballots to voters whose applications have been approved. (NMSA 1978, § 1-6-5(F)). First Day for Absentee in-person voting at the County Clerk Annex. (NMSA 1978, § 1-6-5.7(A)). |
| Mon. Oct 13 | Seventh Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. Seventh campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)). |
| Sat. Oct 18 | Early Voting. First day for in-person early voting on voting machine at the County Clerk’s Office and other early voting sites. (NMSA 1978, § 1-6-5.7(B)) |
| Mon. Oct 20 | Eighth Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. Eighth campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)). |
| Tues. Oct 21 |
Absentee Application Deadline. The county clerk shall mark each completed application for a mailed ballot with the date and time of receipt in the clerk’s office and enter the required information in the ballot register. The county clerk shall then determine if the applicant is a voter and whether the voter is a uniformed-service voter or an overseas voter. If the applicant is a uniformed-service voter or overseas voter, the application shall be processed pursuant to the UMOVA. An application for a mailed ballot from a voter who is not a federally qualified elector is timely if received by the county clerk no later than fourteen (14) days prior to election day. 1-6-5 (A), NMSA 1978 |
| Mon. Oct 27 |
Ninth Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. Ninth campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)). |
| Fri. Oct 31 | Supplemental Financial Reports. Any contribution or pledge to contribute $500 or more shall be reported to the City Clerk within 24 hours. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4) |
| Sat. Nov 1 | Last day for early voting and in-person absentee. (NMSA 1978, § 1-6-5.7(A). |
| Mon. Nov 3 | Tenth Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. Tenth campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)). |
| Tues. Nov 4 |
ELECTION DAY Polls Open at 7:00am and close at 7:00pm. (NMSA 1978, § 1-22-3(A)) 7:00 pm Polls Close. Any voter in line waiting to vote may vote. (NMSA 1978, § 1-12-26) |
| Mon. Nov 10 |
Biannual Disclosure Statement due by 5:00pm for elected officials**. Elected officials must report all contributions and expenditures made and contributions received on or before the first Monday in November and not previously reported. The online reporting statement must be filed (posted) no later than 5:00pm. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(c)(2)(A)). **In an election year, rather than filing biannual disclosure statements, reporting individuals who are candidates for office shall file campaign disclosure statements. |
| Fri. Nov 14 | Last day to take down temporary signs. Temporary signs may be displayed 60 days before an election and 10 days after the election. (ROA 1994 IDO, § 14-16-5-12(I)(2)(c)). Different dates apply to runoff elections see ROA 1994 IDO, § 14-16-5-12(I)(2)(c). |
| Tues. Nov 18 | Return unspent or unencumbered Regular Election Public funds. Deadline for Participating Candidates to pay City Clerk all unspent or unencumbered funds received from the Open and Ethical Elections Fund and any Seed money from the regular election. (City Charter Article XVI, § 8(C)) |
| Thurs. Dec 4 | Twelfth Campaign Disclosure Statement Due. Twelfth campaign disclosure statement must be filed with the City Clerk’s office by 5:00pm for any candidate/committee registered in the system. (City Charter Article XIII, § 4(d)(2)(B)). |