New Mexico
A dated list of changes to how Americans vote: district maps, polling places and drop boxes, voting laws and rules, and courts and election officials. Each entry says who did what and when, shows what became of it, and links to the page it rests on. Attempts that failed are listed as failed. Entries that rest on a news report name the outlet.
This is the state view: events recorded for New Mexico, then national events that apply here. See the national timeline.
In New Mexico
1998
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Justice Department sues Bernalillo County over Navajo language voting help
In 1998 the United States alleged that Bernalillo County violated Sections 2 and 203 of the Voting Rights Act by failing to provide voting and election information in Navajo. The parties resolved the case that year through a consent decree requiring an effective Native American Election Information Program; a three-judge court extended certain provisions through January 31, 2005 on July 1, 2003.
Source last checked Oct 23, 2026
1993
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Justice Department sues Cibola County over Keresan and Navajo language voting help
In 1993 the United States alleged that Cibola County violated Sections 2 and 203 of the Voting Rights Act by failing to provide voting and election information in Keresan and Navajo. The parties resolved the case in 1994 through a stipulation and order requiring an effective Native American Election Information Program; the Justice Department lists extensions through 2011 and a Letter of Agreement binding until March 1, 2013.
Source last checked Oct 23, 2026
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Justice Department sues Socorro County over Navajo language voting help
In 1993 the United States alleged that Socorro County violated Sections 2 and 203 of the Voting Rights Act by failing to provide voting and election information in Navajo. The parties resolved the case in 1994 through a consent agreement requiring an effective Navajo language program; a July 13, 2004 order extended the federal examiner provision through December 15, 2004.
Source last checked Oct 23, 2026
Nationwide
1993
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Supreme Court decides Shaw v. Reno
On June 28, 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court held that voters stated a claim under the Equal Protection Clause by alleging that a reapportionment plan was "so irrational on its face that it can be understood only as an effort to segregate voters into separate districts on the basis of race," without sufficient justification.
Source last checked Oct 23, 2026
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National Voter Registration Act of 1993 becomes law
Public Law 103-31, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, is dated May 20, 1993. The law states its purpose as "to establish procedures that will increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote in elections for Federal office."
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
How this timeline is built
Every entry rests on at least one source that was opened and read, and that source states the date and the fact. Courts, legislatures, election offices, the Justice Department, the Census Bureau, the Federal Register and Congress.gov come first. A news report is used only when no official page states the fact, and it is labeled with the outlet's name. Encyclopedias are not used as sources. History starts in 1965 with the Voting Rights Act. County names come from the Census Bureau's 2024 Gazetteer. Congressional district numbers are those in use for the 2026 election; an event is tagged to a district only when its source names that congressional district.
When a later event changes an earlier one, such as a law later struck down, both entries are listed and point to each other. This page does not predict outcomes or say which party a change helps. U.S. House maps for 2026 · Back to the 2026 voting center.