Los Alamos County sees historic semi-open primary, unaffiliated voters can choose ballots

Los Alamos County’s political center of gravity is shifting. In a county of 19,419 people, Democrats now account for 40.2% of registered voters, Republicans 26.8%, and independents 30.9%, with both major parties posting net losses since January. That leaves unaffiliated voters large enough to shape not just the June 2 primary, but the way candidates speak to the county’s future.

New Mexico’s 2026 primary is the first semi-open primary in state history, allowing Decline-to-State voters to choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot without first changing party registration. The Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office says that makes this a historic election, and the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos says the change opens the primary to thousands more voters who were previously shut out of party contests.

The election calendar has been moving fast. Early voting began May 5, same-day registration began in person that day as well, expanded early voting started May 16 at the Los Alamos Municipal Building and White Rock Town Hall, and May 19 was the last day to request an absentee ballot. County election officials are directing voters to the clerk’s office for verified election information, while the state voter portal allows residents to register online, request absentee ballots and check registration status.

The local numbers also fit a broader statewide trend. New Mexico’s unaffiliated registration climbed from 314,017 in July 2025 to 371,380 by March 31, 2026, and roughly 25,000 more people registered as decline-to-state between December 2024 and February 2026 even as the state’s total registered voters barely changed. That suggests the change is not just population growth. It points to voters actively moving out of the major parties and into the independent column.

For Los Alamos, that matters because independents now nearly match Republicans and sit just 9.3 percentage points behind Democrats. Campaigns can no longer treat party registration as a complete guide to who decides local races. The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos held a candidate forum April 30 at the UNM-LA Student Center, where candidates for County Council and Sheriff were invited to participate, underscoring how quickly the new rules are changing campaign strategy in a county where unaffiliated voters now hold real leverage.