Public Records Free Directory Blog

We know that the Secretary of State is an important political post, but what exactly, is their role?  In the United States federal government, the Secretary of State - currently Condoleezza Rice - holds the responsibility of managing affairs related to foreign policy.  However, in addition to a federal Secretary of State, each state also has its own Secretary of State.  The state specific Secretaries of State are responsible for many administrative governmental functions in your state.  Two functions of the Secretaries of State which are especially important in the world of public records are elections and corporate/business registrations and filings. 

The exact responsibilities of every Secretary of State will vary depending on which state they serve.  Thus depending on the State, the Secretary of State’s office could be responsible for elections, corporation, business, professional records, and trademarks.  In most states, the Secretary of State will have separate divisions or departments to handle specific functions.  For example, there may be an Elections Division to handle all things related to state elections and a Corporations Division related to corporation/business registrations and other filings. 

Election records managed by the Secretary of State can include voter registration records and campaign finance records.  Voter registration records can document information such as whether you are registered to vote, where you are registered, and which political party you belong to.  Some Secretary of State offices provide online access to voter registration records.  Generally, for identity protection, these records can only be access by name, date of birth and social security number.  Many Secretary of State offices also provide online access to campaign finance records.  These records document the contributions and expenditures of a political candidate running for office.

The Secretary of State is often the government agency responsible for registering corporations and other business entities.  Depending on the state, limited liability companies, limited liability partnership, non-profit corporations, sole proprietorships, and corporations could all file their registration paperwork with the Secretary of State.  Registration records typically have information related to the name of the business, the owners, the business activity, and contact information.  Businesses may also file annual statements or documents which dissolve (shut-down) the business.  All these records are public information and may be accessed by any interested party.  So, you could easily find out information about the businesses operating in your community by checking with the Secretary of State.  

Furthermore, some state laws may require that certain professionals - such accountants, architects, and engineers – acquire a professional license which authorizes them to practice their trade.  These types of records may also be managed by the Secretary of State’s office.

The Secretary of State will likely also be responsible for trademark records.  Trademarks are used to uniquely distinguish the products of a business.  They are filed with the Secretary of State to create an ownership in that trademark and therefore prevent others from copying it. 

 The Secretary of State plays in important role in managing the records responsible for the politics and economy of our states.  To find access to Secretary of State Records and other public records information, visit The Free Public Records Directory.