CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Cibola County residents who are considering a run for local office will soon have a major deadline on the calendar: Filing Day is Tuesday, March 10, 2026, when candidates for most local offices must submit their paperwork in person at the Cibola County Clerk’s Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The deadline applies to several high-impact positions in county government, including two seats on the Cibola County Board of Commissioners, along with countywide judicial and public safety offices that shape day-to-day life across the county.
This is an opportunity for those citizens who are have plans and goals for the community to stand up and put their hat in the ring to lead.
Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and federal offices are covered separately on Page A6.
What is Filing Day?
Under the New Mexico Secretary of State’s 2026 Candidate Guide, Filing Day is the statewide deadline when candidates for offices must file their declarations of candidacy during the specified hours.
For most local offices, filings are made with the county clerk in the county where the candidate resides.
The Secretary of State’s guidance also draws a clear line between offices that require nominating petitions and offices that do not. For positions such as state legislative offices and certain judicial positions, candidates must file a declaration of candidacy and nominating petitions at the same time. For other elective county offices, candidates generally file a declaration of candidacy and filing fees, or a pauper statement in lieu of fees if they qualify.
Cibola County offices on the ballot
According to the Secretary of State’s guide, several Cibola County offices are on the ballot this cycle for four-year terms, including two magistrate judge positions (Division 1 and Division 2),county sheriff, county assessor, probate judge, and two county commission seats – one in District 1 and one in District 3.
County Commission seats: District 1 and District 3
Two seats on the Cibola County Board of Commissioners will be up in the 2026 cycle, and both represent large geographic areas with different community needs.
Commission District 1 generally represents the eastern half of Cibola County, including the Seboyeta and Cubero communities, and areas tied to the Pueblo of Laguna — including the Village of Mesita, Village of Paguate, Encinal, Paraje and Seama — extending north toward Cerro Pelado and Cerro Pelón in the Zuni Mountains, stopping before the La Mosca Lookout area.
Commission District 3 covers much of the north portion of the county, including large portions of residential Grants, the Village of San Mateo, and east toward La Mosca Lookout, including the Homestake area.
Petition signature rules and filing requirements
For offices that require nominating petitions, the Secretary of State’s guide states that nominating petitions must be filed at the same time as the declaration of candidacy on March 10. The guide also outlines minimum signature thresholds for certain offices. For state senate candidates, the petition must be signed by the greater of 3% of the total vote of the candidate’s party in the district or 17 voters. For state representative candidates, the requirement is the greater of 3% or 10 voters.
For district attorney and district judge candidates, the requirement is the greater of 2% or 15 voters. For metropolitan judge candidates, the requirement is the greater of 2% or 10 voters. For magistrate judge candidates, it is the greater of 2% or 10 voters. For Public Education Commission candidates, the requirement is the greater of 2% or 25 voters.
The Secretary of State’s guidance also includes a reminder on financial disclosure. A candidate for legislative or statewide office who has not already filed a financial disclosure statement in the same calendar year they declare candidacy must file one at the time of filing, using the Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance Information System at https://login.cfis.sos.state.n m.us/#/index. The guide states that candidates who do not file the required financial disclosure statement by the qualification deadline can be disqualified.
Primary election timeline for voters
For voters, the primary election timeline begins to accelerate in May.
The Secretary of State’s schedule lists May 5, 2026 as the date voter registration by mail, through a voter registration agent, and online closes, and it is also the date early in-person voting begins at county clerk offices.
That is also when county clerks begin sending mailed ballots. The primary election will be June 2, 2026, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.