The Secretary of State is a constitutional or statutory officer found in most U.S. states who manages core administrative functions including business entity registration, elections administration, and official record-keeping for state government. This office serves as the primary point of contact for businesses forming legal entities, citizens registering to vote, and individuals needing authenticated official documents.
There are 52 states with Secretary Of State locations across the United States. Secretary of State offices collectively maintain millions of business records, process voter registrations for tens of millions of citizens, and authenticate thousands of official documents annually.
Secretary Of State in the United States
Browsing by state helps businesses and individuals locate their state's Secretary of State office, access business filing systems, find voter registration resources, and understand the services available through regional or satellite offices that may be more conveniently located than the state capital main office.
Common Services
- Business entity formation, name reservation, and annual report filing for LLCs and corporations
- Voter registration, elections administration, and candidate filing information
- Notary public commission applications and renewal processing
- Apostille certifications and document authentication for international use
Most Secretary of State services are available online, including business entity searches, online filings, and voter registration. When visiting in person, bring your filing documents, applicable fees, and a valid photo ID. Business filings require entity name choices, registered agent information, and organizer or officer signatures.
For official information, visit National Association of Secretaries of State.
About Secretary Of State
The Secretary of State is elected by voters in most states and serves a four-year term, overseeing a department that may include divisions for business services, elections, securities regulation, and records management. In some states, this role is called the Lieutenant Governor, Commissioner of State Lands, or a comparable title with similar responsibilities.
Common Services
- Lobbyist registration and financial disclosure filing requirements
- Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings and lien searches
- Trademark and trade name registrations for state-level marks
- Charitable organization registration and annual reporting requirements
Business owners should verify that their chosen entity name is available before preparing formation documents, using the Secretary of State's online business name search tool. Submitting online filings is faster and often less expensive than mailing paper filings, and confirmation is typically available the same day.
For official information, visit National Association of Secretaries of State.