New Hampshire Secretary of State

New Hampshire Secretary of State
Office name	Secretary of State of New Hampshire
Incumbent	David M. Scanlan
Incumbentsince	2022
Seat	Concord, New Hampshire
Constituting instrument	New Hampshire Constitution
Formation	1784
First holder	Samuel Livermore

New Hampshire Secretary of State

The Secretary of State of New Hampshire is a constitutional officer charged with records stewardship, electoral administration, corporate registration, and statutory duties under the New Hampshire Constitution and state law. The office interacts with agencies and institutions including the New Hampshire General Court, Governor of New Hampshire, and county clerks to implement statutes and preserve public records. Historically tied to early American figures and state institutions, the office has overseen notable electoral episodes and business regulation throughout New Hampshire's history.

History

The office traces to the post-Revolutionary period when figures such as Samuel Livermore served in roles linking the state to the national Articles of Confederation framework and later the United States Constitution. Throughout the 19th century, occupants engaged with events like the War of 1812 era politics, antebellum debates involving Daniel Webster, and industrial expansion centered in towns such as Manchester, New Hampshire and Nashua, New Hampshire. During the Progressive Era, the office adapted to reforms influenced by national movements including the Progressive Party (United States, 1912) and regulatory developments paralleling actions by the Interstate Commerce Commission. In the 20th century, Secretaries coordinated with presidential campaigns tied to figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy as New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary rose to prominence. Modern incumbents have grappled with issues reflected in cases involving the New Hampshire Supreme Court, litigation invoking the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and intergovernmental disputes with the United States Department of Justice.

Powers and Responsibilities

Statutory and constitutional powers derive from the New Hampshire Constitution and statutes passed by the New Hampshire General Court. Core responsibilities include maintenance of official state records, custody of the Great Seal of New Hampshire, and authentication of executive acts issued by the Governor of New Hampshire. The office issues certifications used by federal entities such as the United States Senate and the Federal Election Commission in contexts involving credentialing and election result reporting. It also collaborates with municipal bodies including Concord, New Hampshire city officials and county registrars on recordkeeping standards and public access obligations under state open-records laws. The Secretary participates in intergovernmental groups alongside officials from states such as Vermont and Maine on regional issues including interstate compacts.

Election Administration and Voting Oversight

The Secretary functions as chief elections official responsible for administering statutes affecting the New Hampshire primary, a key event in presidential nominating contests that draws national actors like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump. Duties encompass ballot certification, candidate filing, recount supervision, and canvassing procedures pursuant to laws enacted by the New Hampshire General Court. The office liaises with the Federal Election Commission on federal election compliance, coordinates with the National Association of Secretaries of State, and interfaces with county officials in Grafton County, New Hampshire and Hillsborough County, New Hampshire during close contests. Secretaries have managed recounts involving prominent local figures and coordinated with courthouses such as the New Hampshire Supreme Court when vote disputes proceed to judicial review.

Business Services and Records Management

The Secretary administers corporate registration and business filings under statutes addressing entities including corporations, limited liability companies, and nonprofit organizations incorporated with the state. The office maintains the public registry that researchers and lawyers reference alongside documents from institutions like the New Hampshire Bar Association and filings relevant to transactions in cities like Concord, New Hampshire and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Records stewardship responsibilities include safekeeping archival materials that relate to historical actors such as John Stark and events like the American Revolutionary War, and coordination with repositories such as the New Hampshire Historical Society. The office issues apostilles aligned with the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961) for international use of New Hampshire public documents.

Appointment, Term, and Succession

Under the New Hampshire Constitution and state statutes, the Secretary is elected biennially by the New Hampshire General Court (the state legislature) rather than by popular ballot, a process distinct from many other states where secretaries are elected in statewide popular elections. The legislative election involves members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and New Hampshire Senate convening in joint session. Succession provisions and temporary vacancy procedures coordinate with the Governor of New Hampshire and legislative officers including the Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Historically, legislative selection has produced long-tenured Secretaries, with officeholders serving multiple terms through collaboration with both Republican Party (United States) and Democratic Party (United States) majorities.

List of Secretaries of State

A chronological list of Secretaries begins with early officeholders such as Samuel Livermore and continues through 19th- and 20th-century figures who interacted with national leaders like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln. Modern lists include Secretaries who served during presidencies of Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and into the administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. For detailed names, dates, and biographical notes, consult archival compilations maintained by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources and legislative records of the New Hampshire General Court.

Category:State constitutional officers of New Hampshire Category:Politics of New Hampshire