The secretary of state of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
Oregon
Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...
, is first in the line of succession to the
governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
.
The duties of the 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
The United States census (plural censuses or census) is a census that is legally mandated by the Constitution of the United States. It takes place every ten years. The first census after the American Revolution was taken in 1790 United States ce ...
, if the
Oregon Legislative Assembly cannot come to an agreement over changes to legislative redistricting, the duty falls to the secretary of state.
The current secretary of state is Democrat
Tobias Read, who took office on January 6, 2025.
Divisions
*
Archives Division maintains the official records of the 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.
* 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.
Oregon Audits Division.
Oregon Secretary of State Audits Division, accessed February 16, 2012.
* Corporation Division handles filings relating to company law, including the formation of corporation
A corporation or body corporate is an individual or a group of people, such as an association or company, that has been authorized by the State (polity), state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law as ...
s and other businesses and organizations, and other matters related to the Uniform Commercial Code
The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), first published in 1952, is one of a number of uniform acts that have been established as law with the goal of harmonizing the laws of sales and other commercial transactions across the United States through U ...
. They are also in charge of operating the notaries public system.
* Elections Division performs administrative and oversight duties concerning 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
The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the Oregon Legislative Assembly, state legislature and the offices of the Governor of Oregon, governor, Oregon Secretary of State, secretary of state, and Oregon State Treasurer, treasurer of t ...
in Salem.
List of Oregon secretaries of state
Provisional government (1841–1849)
Five individuals served as clerk and recorder, the predecessor office to the 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 President Lisbet Falero could appoint his successors.
State government (1859–present)
References
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External links
*
{{Oregon statewide elected officials
*
1859 establishments in Oregon