Oregon Secretary of State

The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor.^[1] The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public records. Additionally, the Secretary of State serves on the Oregon State Land Board and chairs the Oregon Sustainability Board. Following every United States Census, if the Oregon Legislative Assembly cannot come to agreement over changes to legislative districting, the duty falls to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has performed this duty every decade since 1921.^[2]

The office is currently held by Kate Brown, a Democrat.

Divisions

• Archives Division maintains the official records of Oregon government, provides public access to them, and publishes the Oregon Blue Book and the Oregon Administrative Rules. Established in 1947, the division is located in the Cecil L. Edwards Archives Building in downtown Salem on the capitol mall.^[3]
• Audits Division provides oversight of public spending. The department began in 1929 and oversees state agency compliance with accounting rules, reports on the performance of state departments, and oversees the standards for audits of local governments within Oregon, among other tasks.^[4]
• Corporations Division administers business filings, including corporation and other business and organization formation, and those related to the Uniform Commercial Code. They are also in charge of operating the notaries public system.
• Elections Division performs administrative and oversight duties with respect to elections in concert with the County governments, maintains a central voter registry, and publishes the Voters' Pamphlet. These duties include working with the referendum, initiative, and recall process and accepting the registration of candidates for elective office.
• Executive Division oversees the other four divisions of the office. The Secretary of State's office is located in the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.

List of Oregon's Secretaries of State

Provisional government (1841-1849)

Five individuals served as Clerk and Recorder, the predecessor office to Secretary of State:

• George W. LeBreton, February 18, 1841-March 4, 1844
• Overton Johnson, March 4, 1844-May 25, 1844
• John E. Long, May 25, 1844-June 21, 1846
• Frederick Prigg, June 26, 1846-September 16, 1848
• Samuel M. Holderness, September 19, 1848-March 10, 1849

Territorial government (1849-1859)

Oregon's first Territorial Secretary was elected by the legislature, to serve until his successors could be appointed by the President of the United States.

Oregon State government (1859-Present)