Otero County 2026 Ballot Question Results: What Passed
Published 5 November 2026
Otero County voters turned down the proposed countywide economic development gross receipts tax on November 3, 2026, by 9,971 votes to 5,818, or about 63% to 37%, in unofficial results. Statewide, all four constitutional amendments and all three bond questions passed. Here is what each result means for people who live here or are moving here.
I wrote about these questions before Election Day, without taking sides. This is the follow up, with the numbers from the New Mexico Secretary of State's unofficial results.
What were the ballot question results?
| Question | Result | Yes votes | No votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otero County economic development tax (0.125% gross receipts tax) | Did not pass | 5,818 (36.8%) | 9,971 (63.2%) |
| Constitutional Amendment 1: pocket veto and veto messages | Passed | 494,437 (75.1%) | 164,368 (24.9%) |
| Constitutional Amendment 2: school elections with partisan elections | Passed | 423,872 (64.8%) | 230,295 (35.2%) |
| Constitutional Amendment 3: nominating committees for university regents | Passed | 441,916 (69.9%) | 190,138 (30.1%) |
| Constitutional Amendment 4: salaries for state legislators | Passed | 415,498 (63.4%) | 239,681 (36.6%) |
| Bond Question 1: up to $21,582,213 for senior citizen facilities | Passed | 450,605 (69.6%) | 196,962 (30.4%) |
| Bond Question 2: up to $19,324,188 for libraries | Passed | 424,393 (65.9%) | 219,373 (34.1%) |
| Bond Question 3: up to $352,225,379 for higher education, special schools and tribal schools | Passed | 412,945 (64.2%) | 229,874 (35.8%) |
The county question shows Otero County votes, with all 66 precincts reporting. The amendments and bonds show statewide totals, since they were decided by voters across New Mexico. I worked out the percentages from the vote counts on the New Mexico Secretary of State's election results site, last updated November 4 at 4:56 a.m.
What happened with the Otero County economic development tax?
The question asked whether the county should add a countywide gross receipts tax of one eighth of one percent, or 12.5 cents on every $100 of taxable sales. The money would have gone to economic development plans and projects under New Mexico's Local Economic Development Act.
Because it did not pass, gross receipts tax rates in Otero County stay where they are. In my post explaining the Otero County economic development tax question, I listed the current rates from the state's July 2026 schedule, such as 8.1875% in Alamogordo and 7.6875% in Tularosa. Those rates are unchanged by this vote.
The City of Alamogordo's own Local Economic Development Act fund is separate from this county question, so this result does not change it.
What do the four constitutional amendments change?
Each amendment needed a simple majority, and all four got one. In plain terms:
- Amendment 1 ends the pocket veto. Bills the governor does not act on will become law, and every veto needs a written message.
- Amendment 2 removes the rule that school elections must be held separately from partisan elections.
- Amendment 3 sets up nominating committees that give the governor lists of nominees for university boards of regents.
- Amendment 4 allows salaries for state legislators, limited to New Mexico's median household income, starting with the legislators seated in 2029.
My earlier post on the 2026 ballot questions for Otero County voters has a longer explanation of each one.
What do the bond questions mean for Otero County?
The three bond questions add up to $393,131,780 for projects around the state. The local piece I know of is in Bond Question 3. NMSU's 2026 GO Bond page lists $1 million for NMSU Alamogordo to replace keyed interior and exterior doors with electronic access control.
The bonds are repaid through a statewide property tax levy. According to the Secretary of State's voter guide, the State Board of Finance sets the final tax rate and the estimated yearly cost to property owners after the election.
Are these results official yet?
Not yet. These are unofficial results, and they become official after the canvass is completed and certified. The Cloudcroft Reader's election report reported the same county tax result, 9,971 to 5,818. Small changes to the vote counts are possible during the canvass, but the outcomes above were not close.
What does this mean for homeowners and people moving here?
For everyday shopping, nothing changes. The county tax did not pass, so you will not see an extra 0.125% on receipts in Otero County.
For homeowners, the bond questions are the part tied to property taxes, through the statewide levy the State Board of Finance will set. If you are budgeting for a home purchase, I am always happy to walk you through how property taxes work here. My Moving to Alamogordo guide is a good place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Otero County economic development tax pass?
No. Otero County voters rejected it 9,971 to 5,818, or about 63% to 37%, in unofficial results.
Will gross receipts tax go up in Alamogordo?
Not because of this vote. The county tax failed, so the current gross receipts tax rates in Alamogordo and the rest of Otero County stay the same.
Did the New Mexico constitutional amendments pass in 2026?
Yes. All four constitutional amendments passed statewide in unofficial results, including Amendment 4, which allows salaries for state legislators starting in 2029.
Did the 2026 New Mexico bond questions pass?
Yes. All three bond questions passed statewide, for senior citizen facilities, libraries, and higher education, special schools and tribal schools.
Does NMSU Alamogordo get money from the bonds?
Yes. NMSU lists $1 million for NMSU Alamogordo in Bond Question 3, to replace keyed doors with electronic access control.
Results come from the New Mexico Secretary of State's unofficial election results, last updated November 4, 2026, with bond details from NMSU's GO Bond page, checked 5 November 2026. Results are unofficial until the canvass is certified.