Secretary of state (U.S. state government)

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Not to be confused with United States Secretary of State.
Party affiliation of current United States secretaries of state or analogous officials:
  Democratic secretary of state
  Republican secretary of state
  Independent secretary of state
  New Progressive secretary of state
  Nonexistent
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Secretary of state is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the secretary of the commonwealth. In states that have one, the secretary of state is the chief clerk of the state and is often the primary custodian of important state records. In the states of Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah, there is no secretary of state; in those states many duties that a secretary of state might normally execute fall within the domain of the lieutenant governor. Like the lieutenant governor, in most states, the secretary of state is in the line of succession to succeed the governor, in most cases immediately behind the lieutenant governor. In three states with no lieutenant governor (Arizona,[1] Oregon and Wyoming) as well as the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, the secretary of state is first in the line of succession in the event of a gubernatorial vacancy.

Currently, in 35 states, the secretary of state is elected, usually for a four-year term. In others, the secretary of state is appointed by the governor with confirmation with the state's respective Senate; Florida,[2] Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia[3] are amongst the states with this practice. In three states, the secretary of state is elected by the state legislature; the General Assembly of Tennessee meets in joint convention to elect the Secretary of State to a four-year term,[4] and the Maine Legislature and New Hampshire General Court also select their secretaries of state, but to two-year terms.[5] The longest serving state secretary of state in history was Thad A. Eure of North Carolina, who served from 1936 until 1989.

Secretaries of state, or those acting in that capacity, belong to the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Duties[]

The actual duties of a secretary of state vary widely from state to state. In most states, the secretary of state's office is a creation of the original draft of the state constitution. However, in many cases responsibilities have been added by statute or executive order.

Duties in most states[]

The most common, and arguably the most important, function held by secretaries of state is to serve as the state's chief elections official (although many states also have , which are usually county elected officials). In 38 states, the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of elections, including the enforcement of qualifying rules, oversight of financial regulation and establishment of Election Day procedures falls on the secretary of state. The exceptions are Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.[6]

Florida is one of the many states for which this is true, and for this reason, during the Florida election recount, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris became one of the few state secretaries of state to become well known nationally.

In the vast majority of states, the secretary of state is also responsible for the administration of the Uniform Commercial Code, an act which provides for the uniform application of business contracts and practices across the United States, including the registration of liens on personal property. Hand in hand with this duty, in most states the Secretary of State is responsible for state trademark registration and for chartering businesses (usually including partnerships and corporations) that wish to operate within their state. Accordingly, in most states, the secretary of state also maintains all records on business activities within the state. And in some states, the secretary of state has actual wide-ranging regulatory authority over businesses as well.

In addition to business record, the secretary of state's office is the primary repository of official records in perhaps a majority of states. This includes in most states the official copies of state documents including the actual official copy of the state constitution (and in Delaware, the state-owned copy of the United States Bill of Rights[7]) formal copies of legislative acts enacted into law, executive orders issued by the governor, and regulations and interpretations of statutes issued by state regulatory agencies. In at least a half-dozen states, this record keeping authority extends to civil acts, such as marriages, birth certificates, and adoption and divorce decrees. Many states also require the secretary of state's office to also maintain records of land transactions and ownership.

In at least 35 states, the secretary of state is also responsible for the administration of notaries public. And almost all states also designate (almost always in the state constitution itself) that the Secretary of State shall be the "Keeper of the Great Seal" of the state. Ostensibly this requires the secretary to make decisions as to where the state seal shall be affixed, whether it be onto legislation, state contracts, or other official documents.

Those states which have address confidentiality programs often place the Secretary of State in charge of administering them.

Less common duties[]

About a dozen states give the secretary of state the task of issuing professional licenses. This includes doctors, plumbers, cosmeticians, general contractors, and, in at least two states, ministers (to perform marriages). In Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, the secretary of state must clear anyone who wishes to act as a sports agent for a professional athlete.

In several states (including Indiana, Mississippi, Massachusetts, and Wyoming), the secretary of state is responsible for oversight of the securities industry.

In Illinois, Maine, and Michigan, the secretary of state is in charge of the issuance of driver's licenses, motor vehicle registrations, and collecting motor vehicle taxes. In many other states, these duties fall under an organization such as departments of motor vehicles, transportation, or state police.

In several states the secretary of state is also in charge of monitoring the activities of lobbyists. While some might regard this as a natural extension of the role as chief elections officer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, who is not in charge of elections in that state, is nonetheless responsible for regulating lobbying.

In about five states, the secretary of state is the official in charge of the official state museum. In some of these states, and also some states without official museums, the secretary of state is designated as the official with responsibility for maintenance of the state's historical records.

A few states put the secretary of state in charge of the use of public property. In most cases, this means only public buildings (usually the state capitol building), but in Mississippi it also includes some lands that are legally defined as belonging to the state, such as tidelands.[8]

Several states grant a technical statutory authority to the secretary of state in the realm of pardons and commutations. In most cases, this is nothing more than the responsibility to affix the state seal upon the governor's proclamation. However, in Delaware[9] and Nebraska,[10] the secretary of state sits on a with the governor, and the secretary of state commands equal authority with the governor in any pardoning decisions that are issued.

Since the early 1980s, many states have increased efforts to develop direct commercial relations with foreign nations. In several of these states, the state's secretary of state has been given primary responsibility in this area. Despite this, there should be no confusion of the duties of a particular state's secretary of state and those of the United States Secretary of State. The prohibition of the United States Constitution[11] against individual states having diplomatic relations with foreign states is absolute; these recently evolved duties are of a purely commercial nature.

In Maine and California, in the event of some electoral ties, it is the secretary of state who determines the winner by drawing lots. In California, this does not extend to primary elections, or to the elections of the Governor or the Lieutenant Governor.[12] In Maine, this duty only applies to primary elections.[13]

Unique responsibilities[]

Several states have given their secretary of state at least one responsibility that is shared by no other state's secretary:

  • In California, consenting adults can enter into a domestic partnership by registering with the Secretary of State.[14]
  • In Connecticut, becoming a moderator for political debates requires a license from the Secretary of State.[15]
  • In Colorado, performing arts societies are required to file certain information with the Secretary of State.[16]
  • In Delaware, the Secretary of State oversees the Delaware Office of Veterans Services.[17]
  • In Illinois, the Secretary of state is ex officio Clerk of the Court of Claims.[18] In addition, the Secretary of State is responsible for the enforcement of state motor vehicle theft statutes and the regulation of the automotive industry.[19]
  • In Indiana, the Secretary of State is responsible for the regulation of auto dealerships.[20]
  • In Iowa, the Secretary of State awards the Carrie Chapman Catt Award to every school in Iowa that signs up and registers at least 90 percent of their eligible students to vote. The award is named after the Iowan who was a national leader in the women’s suffrage movement.[21]
  • In Kentucky, the Secretary of State oversees the State Land Office, which maintains a permanent record of the state’s land grants, warrants, and surveys.[22]
  • In Louisiana, notices of retirement by state officials and employees are filed with the Secretary of State.[23]
  • In Maryland, developers of residential condominiums and timeshares must register with the Secretary of State.[24]
  • In Massachusetts, the Secretary of the Commonwealth functions as register of deeds for the entire state, maintaining branch offices in each county.[25]
  • In Michigan, autor insurers writing policies for Michigan residents are required to file policyholder information with the Secretary of State.[26]
  • In Minnesota, members of state boards, commissions, and councils are appointed through a merit-based open appointments process administered by the Secretary of State.[27] State law also requires the Secretary of State to publish an annual report that provides a listing and description of the duties, membership, and statistics for each state board, commission, or council.[28]
  • In Mississippi, the Secretary of State has a fiduciary responsibility for enforcement of sixteenth section public school trust lands and lieu lands laws, care and management of the state's public trust tidelands, and the disposition of lands forfeited to the state for non-payment of ad valorem taxes, among other duties.[29]
  • In Montana, the Secretary of State sits on the Board of Examiners, which serves as the issuer of state debt and approves the sale of bonds for the state.[30]
  • In Nebraska, debt management agencies cannot carry on business without first obtaining a license from the Secretary of State.[31]
  • In Nevada, the Secretary of State is a member of the governing board for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, which protects the environment within Lake Tahoe Basin through land-use regulations.[32]
  • In New Hampshire, vital records administration is the responsibility of the Secretary of State.[33]
  • In New Jersey, the Secretary of State is in charge of enhancing and building awareness of ethnic diversity. Other duties include promoting volunteerism and literacy.[34]
  • In New York, the Secretary of State is charged with oversight of the state's thousands of cemeteries.[35] In addition, the Secretary of State administers the state's Coastal Management Program under the terms of the federal Coastal Zone Management Act.[36]
  • In North Carolina, the Secretary of State protects investors by prosecuting violations of the state's securities laws.[37]
  • In North Dakota, the Secretary of State is a member of, and ex officio secretary to, the Emergency Commission.[38]
  • In Ohio, the Secretary of State is a member of the Apportionment Board, which meets every decade following the decennial census to redraw boundaries for each of the 99 Ohio House and 33 Ohio Senate districts. Other members of the Apportionment Board are the Governor, the Auditor of State and two members, one Republican and one Democrat, appointed by state legislative leaders.[39]
  • In Oregon, the Secretary of State is Auditor of Public Accounts by virtue of the state constitution and in this capacity performs financial, compliance, and performance audits of state agencies and local governments.[40][41]
  • In Pennsylvania, the Secretary of the Commonwealth oversees the State Athletic Commission, which regulates professional boxing and mixed martial arts.[42]
  • In Puerto Rico, the Secretary of State issues bingo licenses.[43]
  • In Rhode Island, state agencies and local governments are required to file notices of public meetings with the Secretary of State under the auspices of the state's Open Meetings Act.[44] The Secretary of State in turn publishes said notices online.[45]
  • In South Carolina, the Secretary of State is responsible for registering cable television franchises.[46]
  • In South Dakota, the Secretary of State is the authority for issuance of concealed weapon permits.[47]
  • In Tennessee, the Secretary of State regulates disaster relief fundraising.[48]
  • In Texas, the Secretary of State registers health spas.[49]
  • In Utah, local governments and limited purpose entities are required to register with the Lieutenant Governor, who performs the role of secretary of state.[50][51]
  • In Virginia, the Secretary of the Commonwealth manages clemency petitions, restoration of civil rights, and extraditions while also acting as the Governor's liaison with Virginia's Native American tribes.[52]
  • In Washington, the Secretary of State is ex officio chairperson of the state's Productivity Board.[53] By law, the Productivity Board is charged with reviewing civil servant suggestions to improve the delivery of public services and increase efficiency of government operations.[54]
  • In West Virginia, land banks cannot operate unless they have registered with the Secretary of State.[55]
  • In Wisconsin, the Secretary of State is, per the state constitution, an ex officio member of the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands together with the State Treasurer and the Attorney General.[56] The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands invests Wisconsin's four school trust funds and sustainably manages the remaining school trust lands for the benefit of public education, pre-kindergarten through university.[57] A major source of revenue for the school trust funds - the largest being the Common School Fund, with a fair market value of over $1 billion - is BCPL's State Trust Fund Loan Program, which lends trust fund principal to school districts and municipalities for financing public purpose projects that contribute towards economic development, local infrastructure, capital equipment and vehicles, building repairs and improvements, or refinancing existing liabilities to reduce future borrowing costs.[58][59]
  • In Wyoming, the Secretary of State is responsible for receiving and filing ethics disclosures from all state lawmakers and each of the state's constitutional officers.[60] Wyoming is the only state in the Union that lacks an ethics commission.[61]

Current secretaries of state[]

Officeholder State Party Assumed office Title Type
John Merrill Alabama Republican January 19, 2015 Secretary of State Elected
Kevin Meyer Alaska Republican December 3, 2018 Lieutenant Governor Ticket
Salo Ale American Samoa Democratic January 3, 2021 Lieutenant Governor Ticket
Katie Hobbs Arizona Democratic January 7, 2019 Secretary of State Elected
John Thurston Arkansas Republican January 15, 2019 Secretary of State Elected
Shirley Weber California Democratic February 2, 2021 Secretary of State Elected
Jena Griswold Colorado Democratic January 8, 2019 Secretary of State Elected
Denise Merrill Connecticut Democratic January 5, 2011 Secretary of the State Elected
Jeffrey Bullock Delaware Democratic January 20, 2009 Secretary of State Appointed
Kimberly Bassett District of Columbia Democratic December 11, 2018 Secretary of the District Appointed
Laurel Lee Florida Republican January 28, 2019 Secretary of State Appointed
Brad Raffensperger Georgia Republican January 14, 2019 Secretary of State Elected
Josh Tenorio Guam Democratic January 7, 2019 Lieutenant Governor Ticket
Josh Green Hawaii Democratic December 3, 2018 Lieutenant Governor Ticket
Lawerence Denney Idaho Republican January 5, 2015 Secretary of State Elected
Jesse White Illinois Democratic January 11, 1999 Secretary of State Elected
Holli Sullivan Indiana Republican March 16, 2021 Secretary of State Elected
Paul Pate Iowa Republican January 1, 2015 Secretary of State Elected
Scott Schwab Kansas Republican January 14, 2019 Secretary of State Elected
Michael Adams Kentucky Republican January 6, 2020 Secretary of State Elected
Kyle Ardoin Louisiana Republican May 1, 2018 Secretary of State Elected
Shenna Bellows Maine Democratic January 4, 2021 Secretary of State Legislature[62]
John Wobensmith Maryland Republican January 21, 2015 Secretary of State Appointed
Bill Galvin Massachusetts Democratic January 1, 1995 Secretary of the Commonwealth Elected
Jocelyn Benson Michigan Democratic January 1, 2019 Secretary of State Elected
Steve Simon Minnesota Democratic January 5, 2015 Secretary of State Elected
Michael Watson Mississippi Republican January 14, 2020 Secretary of State Elected
Jay Ashcroft Missouri Republican January 9, 2017 Secretary of State Elected
Christi Jacobsen Montana Republican January 4, 2021 Secretary of State Elected
Bob Evnen Nebraska Republican January 10, 2019 Secretary of State Elected
Barbara Cegavske Nevada Republican January 5, 2015 Secretary of State Elected
Bill Gardner New Hampshire Democratic December 2, 1976 Secretary of State Legislature
Tahesha Way New Jersey Democratic January 16, 2018 Secretary of State Appointed
Maggie Toulouse Oliver New Mexico Democratic December 9, 2016 Secretary of State Elected
Rossana Rosado New York Democratic February 22, 2016 Secretary of State Appointed
Elaine Marshall North Carolina Democratic January 3, 1997 Secretary of State Elected
Al Jaeger North Dakota Republican January 1, 1993 Secretary of State Elected
Arnold Palacios Northern Mariana Islands Republican January 14, 2019 Lieutenant Governor Ticket
Frank LaRose Ohio Republican January 14, 2019 Secretary of State Elected
Brian Bingman Oklahoma Republican October 23, 2020 Secretary of State Appointed
Shemia Fagan Oregon Democratic January 4, 2021 Secretary of State Elected
Veronica Degraffenreid (Acting) Pennsylvania Democratic February 5, 2021 Secretary of the Commonwealth Appointed
(pending confirmation) Puerto Rico New Progressive July 12, 2021 Secretary of State Appointed
Nellie Gorbea Rhode Island Democratic January 6, 2015 Secretary of State Elected
Mark Hammond South Carolina Republican January 15, 2003 Secretary of State Elected
Steve Barnett South Dakota Republican January 5, 2019 Secretary of State Elected
Tre Hargett Tennessee Republican January 15, 2009 Secretary of State Legislature
(Deputy Secretary) Texas Republican May 31, 2021 Secretary of State Appointed
Deidre Henderson Utah Republican January 4, 2021 Lieutenant Governor Ticket
James C. Condos Vermont Democratic January 6, 2011 Secretary of State Elected
Tregenza Roach U.S. Virgin Islands Democratic January 7, 2019 Lieutenant Governor Ticket
Kelly Thomasson Virginia Democratic April 15, 2016 Secretary of the Commonwealth Appointed
Kim Wyman Washington Republican January 16, 2013 Secretary of State Elected
Mac Warner West Virginia Republican January 16, 2017 Secretary of State Elected
Doug La Follette Wisconsin Democratic January 3, 1983 Secretary of State Elected
Ed Buchanan Wyoming Republican March 1, 2018 Secretary of State Elected

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Duties of the Secretary of State". Arizona Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2015-02-27.
  2. ^ Secretary of State biography Archived 2007-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
  4. ^ Tennessee Secretary of State
  5. ^ State of Maine
  6. ^ "State Election Agencies". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  7. ^ Delaware Secretary of State
  8. ^ http://www.sos.state.ms.us/PublicLands/Tidelands/
  9. ^ http://www.state.de.us/sos/pardhome.shtml
  10. ^ "Nebraska Board of Pardons". 18 March 2020.
  11. ^ Art 1 Sec 10(3): "No State shall, without the consent of Congress,...enter into any agreement or compact...with a foreign power"
  12. ^ California Elections Code 15651 Archived 2009-07-31 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Maine Statute
  14. ^ "Registries | California Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "Moderator's Certification | Office of the Secretary of State of Connecticut". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  16. ^ "Performing Rights Socieites | Colorado Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  17. ^ "Mission of Office of Veterans Services | Office of Veterans Services". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  18. ^ "Court of Claims | Illinois Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  19. ^ "Secretary of State Police | Illinois Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  20. ^ Indiana Dealer Division
  21. ^ "Carrie Chapman Catt Award | Iowa Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "A History of the Office of the Secretary of State | Kentucky Office of the Secretary of State" (PDF). Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  23. ^ "Department Overview | Louisiana Department of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  24. ^ "Condominium and Timeshare Information | Maryland Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  25. ^ "Registry of Deeds Division | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  26. ^ "Electronic Insurance Reporting | Office of the Michigan Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  27. ^ "15.0597, 2020 MN Statutes | Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  28. ^ "Open Appointments Annual Report | Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  29. ^ "Public Lands | Mississippi Secretary of State". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  30. ^ "Board of Examiners | Montana Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  31. ^ "Debt Management Agencies | Nebraska Secretary of State". 15 October 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  32. ^ "Governing Board | Tahoe Regional Planning Agency". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  33. ^ "About Vital Records | New Hampshire Department of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  34. ^ New Jersey Department of State Archived 2005-10-24 at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ "Division of Cemeteries | New York Department of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  36. ^ "New York State Coastal Management Program | New York Department of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  37. ^ "Securities Division: About Us | North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  38. ^ "Authority and Membership | North Dakota Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  39. ^ "Duties & Responsibilities | Ohio Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  40. ^ "Article VI, Section 2, Oregon Constitution | Oregon State Legislature". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  41. ^ "2021-22 Audit Plan | Office of the Oregon Secretary of State" (PDF). Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  42. ^ "State Athletics | Pennsylvania Department of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  43. ^ "Obtaining Bingo License | Departamento de Estado, Gobierno de Puerto Rico". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  44. ^ "The Attorney General's Guide to Open Government In Rhode Island, 6th Edition, pg. 5 | Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General" (PDF). Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  45. ^ "Search Open Meetings | Rhode Island Department of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  46. ^ "Cable Franchise | South Carolina Secretary of State's Office". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  47. ^ "Concealed Pistol Permits | South Dakota Secretary of State". Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  48. ^ "Disaster Relief Fundraising | Tennessee Secretary of State". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  49. ^ "Registered Health Spas | Texas Secretary of State". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  50. ^ "Entity Registry | Office of the Lieutenant Governor, State of Utah". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  51. ^ "67 Utah Code, Chapter 1a, Section 15 | Utah State Legislature". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  52. ^ "About Us | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  53. ^ "About the Office | Washington Secretary of State". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  54. ^ "Ch. 41.60, Revised Code of Washington: State Employees Suggestion Awards and Incentive Pay | Washington State Legislature". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  55. ^ "Land Reuse Agencies/Municipal Land Banks". Office of the West Virginia Secretary of State. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  56. ^ "Article X, State of Wisconsin Constitution | Board of Commissioners of Public Lands" (PDF). Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  57. ^ "About | Board of Commissioners of Public Lands". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  58. ^ "Common School Fund | Board of Commissioners of Public Lands". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  59. ^ "State Trust Fund Loan Program Home Page | Board of Commissioners of Public Lands". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  60. ^ "Ethics Disclosure | Wyoming Secretary of State". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  61. ^ "State Ethics Commissions: Powers and Duties | National Conference of State Legislatures". Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  62. ^ "Maine State Constitution". www.maine.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-25.

Further reading[]

  • Jocelyn F. Benson. State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process (Ashgate Publishing Company; 2010) 156 pages; A study of state-level secretaries of state that focuses on their role as supervisors of elections.

External links[]

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