The secretary of state of Minnesota is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Twenty-two individuals have held the office of secretary of state since statehood. The incumbent is Steve Simon, a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
Election and term of office The secretary of state is elected by the people on Election Day in November, and takes office on the first Monday of the next January. There is no limit to the number of terms a secretary of state may hold. To be elected secretary of state, a person must be qualified voter, permanently resident in the state of Minnesota at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 21 years of age.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of the secretary of state, the governor may appoint a successor to serve the balance of the term. The secretary of state may also be recalled by the voters or removed from office through an impeachment trial.
Powers and duties The secretary of state is keeper of the Great Seal as prescribed by the Minnesota Constitution. As such, the secretary of state files, certifies, and preserves in their office the enrolled laws of the Legislature, executive orders, commissions and proclamations issued by the governor, state agency rules, official oaths and bonds of state officials, and miscellaneous municipal boundary records. In connection with this role, the secretary of state also processes notary public applications and registers a variety of business associations, including corporations, cooperatives, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, assumed business names, and trademarks. Additionally, a statewide computerized network jointly maintained by the Office of the Secretary of State and county recorders allows the public to file and search Uniform Commercial Code and tax lien records throughout the state.
Hand in hand with business registration and the safekeeping of government records, the secretary of state also administers the open appointments process for state agencies and Safe at Home, Minnesota's address confidentiality program for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other types of crime. Moreover, the secretary of state annually publishes the Minnesota Legislative Manual, a compendium of federal, state, and local government information. Perhaps the most visible and significant duty of the Secretary of State, however, is the administration of Minnesota's election laws. The secretary of state is Minnesota's chief election officer and as such canvasses and certifies election returns and operates the statewide voter registration system, among other election administration duties.
Aside from these functional responsibilities, the secretary of state chairs the State Canvassing Board and is a member of the Executive Council, the State Board of Investment, and an ex-officio member of the governing board for the Minnesota Historical Society.
History The office of secretary of state has existed since before the Minnesota Territory achieved statehood in 1858, and the responsibilities of the office have largely remained the same in the intervening years.
Territorial secretaries Image Name Took office Left office Party Charles K. Smith 18491851Whig Alexander Wilkin 18511853Whig Joseph Rosser 18531857Democratic Charles L. Chase 18571858Democratic
Secretaries of state In 1886, elections were moved from odd years to even years. Beginning with the 1962 election, the term of the office increased from two to four years.
Image Name Term Party Elected1 Francis Baasen 1858-1860 Democratic 18572James H. Baker 1860-1862 Republican 185918613 David Blakeley 1862-1866 Republican 18634 Henry C. Rogers 1866-1870Republican 186518675Hans Mattson 1870-1872Republican 18696 Samuel P. Jennison 1872-1876Republican 187118737 John S. Irgens 1876-1880 Republican 187518778 Frederick Von Baumbach 1880-1887 Republican 1879188118839Hans Mattson 1887-1891 Republican 1886188810 Frederick P. Brown 1891-1895Republican 1890189211 Albert Berg1895-1901Republican 18941896189812Peter E. Hanson 1901-1907Republican19001902190413Julius A. Schmahl 1907-1921 Republican190619081910191219141916191814 Mike Holm 1921-1952Republican 192019221924192619281930193219341936193819401942194419461948195015 H. H. Chesterman 1952 Nonpartisan 16 Virginia Paul Holm 1952-1955Republican 1952 (sp.)195217 Joseph L. Donovan 1955-1971 DFL 19541956195819601962196618Arlen Erdahl 1971-1975 Republican 197019Joan Growe 1975-1999 DFL 19741978198219861990199420Mary Kiffmeyer 1999-2007Republican 1998200221Mark Ritchie 2007-2015 DFL 2006201022Steve Simon 2015- DFL 201420182022 Chesterman served as assistant secretary of state under Mike Holm, and was appointed to the position upon Holm's death. He left office later that same year, and never stood for election.
Notes on Minnesota political party names Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party: On April 15, 1944, the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party merged and created the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Republican Party of Minnesota: From November 15, 1975, to September 23, 1995, the name of the state Republican party was the Independent-Republican party (I-R). The party has always been affiliated with the national Republican Party.
See also List of company registers
References
External links Elections & Voting