Minnesota Secretary of State

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Secretary of State of Minnesota
Minnesota Constitution of 1858, Article V
Inaugural holderCharles K. Smith
FormationMay 11, 1858
(166 years ago) (May 11, 1858)
SuccessionFourth
Salary$95,722[1]
WebsiteOfficial page

The secretary of state of Minnesota is a constitutional officer in 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.[2]

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.[3] The secretary of state may also be recalled by the voters or removed from office through an impeachment trial.[4]

Powers and duties

The secretary of state is keeper of the

assumed business names, and trademarks.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9][10] Moreover, the secretary of state annually publishes the Minnesota Legislative Manual, a compendium of federal, state, and local government information.[11] 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.[12]

Aside from these functional responsibilities, the secretary of state chairs the State Canvassing Board and is an ex officio member of the Executive Council, the State Board of Investment, and the governing board for the Minnesota Historical Society.[13]

Politics of Minnesota
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Subdivisions
Congressional delegation

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 1849 1851 Whig
Alexander Wilkin 1851 1853 Whig
Joseph Rosser 1853 1857 Democratic
Charles L. Chase 1857 1858 Democratic

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.

No. Image Name Took office Left office Party
1 Francis Baasen 1858 1860 Democratic
2 James H. Baker 1860 1862 Republican
3 David Blakeley 1862 1866 Republican
4 Henry C. Rogers 1866 1870 Republican
5 Hans Mattson 1870 1872 Republican
6 Samuel P. Jennison 1872 1876 Republican
7 John S. Irgens 1876 1880 Republican
8 Frederick Von Baumbach 1880 1887 Republican
9 Hans Mattson 1887 1891 Republican
10 Frederick P. Brown 1891 1895 Republican
11 Albert Berg 1895 1901 Republican
12 Peter E. Hanson 1901 1907 Republican
13 Julius A. Schmahl 1907 1921 Republican
14 Mike Holm 1921 1952 Republican
15 H. H. Chesterman 1952 1952 Nonpartisan
16 Virginia Paul Holm 1952 1955 Republican
17 Joseph L. Donovan 1955 1971
DFL
18 Arlen Erdahl 1971 1975 Republican
19 Joan Growe 1975 1999 DFL
20 Mary Kiffmeyer 1999 2007 Republican
21 Mark Ritchie 2007 2015 DFL
22 Steve Simon 2015 DFL
  • 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

  • Democratic Party
    .
  • Republican Party
    .

See also

  • List of company registers

References

  1. ^ State Elected Officials' Compensation (PDF) (Report). Minnesota House Research Department. 2021. p. 1. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "Article VII, Sections 1, 2, and 6 of the Minnesota Constitution". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Article V, Section 3 of the Minnesota Constitution". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "Article VIII, Sections 1, 2, and 6". Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. ^ "Article XIII, Section 11, Minnesota Constitution". Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  6. ^ "About Official Documents". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Business Filings". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "UCC Filings". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Safe at Home". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  11. ^ "Get A Blue Book!". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "What Does the Secretary of State's Office Do?". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "What Does the Secretary of State's Office Do?". Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
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