Today, for the very first time, 330,000 independent voters can participate in New Mexico's primary elections without changing their registration to a major party. SB16, a bipartisan law that opens primary elections to independent voters and modernizes election administration statewide, was signed into law in April 2025. It passed with bipartisan support in both chambers. @NMOpenElections and New Mexico Voters First led the multi-year campaign, spearheading a coalition that included @NativeVoters, @CommonCause New Mexico, @ProtectNM, the Veterans and Military Families Caucus, and more. “With more participation, we get better electoral outcomes. We get elected officials that look like us, feel like us, have values like us. It’s a very challenging time in our country, and having this bill pass, to celebrate this and show that our state is moving forward, and we’re going to have an incredibly participative primary in 2026, is very exciting news that we all need.” — @NMSecOfState “Democracy only works if we all play a part. When I took office, I wasn’t just elected to represent Republicans but all of my constituents. That includes my constituents in our state’s fastest growing party — independents. Senate Bill 16 gives everyone a voice and removes barriers for those who want to see the best candidate come forward from each party, not just the one that tacks hardest left or right to win the primary.” — @CrystalRDiamond (R–Senate District 35) “I think the work to have open primaries is a step in the right direction for New Mexico, where we seem to not be able to govern in a way. I mean, I can't govern without policymakers.... And so I think open primaries are going to give New Mexicans some more opportunity here.…” — @GovMLG Learn more about New Mexico's new primary system: uniteamerica.org/articles/nm…