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| Secretary of State of Vermont | |
|---|---|
| Post | Secretary of State of Vermont |
| Incumbent | David Zuckerman |
| Incumbentsince | 2023 |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Termlength | Two years, no term limits |
| Formation | 1778 |
| Inaugural | Thomas Chittenden |
Secretary of State of Vermont
The Secretary of State of Vermont is a constitutional statewide official responsible for administering Vermont's official records, elections, public filings, and business registrations. The office interacts with state institutions such as the Vermont General Assembly, Vermont Agency of Administration, Vermont Judiciary, and federal entities including the United States Department of Justice, Federal Election Commission, and National Association of Secretaries of State. Historically tied to figures like Thomas Chittenden, the office plays a central role in Vermont's civic and administrative infrastructure.
The office is established by the Constitution of Vermont and is one of five Vermont statewide elected officials alongside the Governor of Vermont, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, Attorney General of Vermont, and State Treasurer of Vermont. Located in Montpelier, Vermont, the Secretary's offices coordinate with municipal clerks in places such as Burlington, Vermont, South Burlington, Vermont, Rutland, and Brattleboro, Vermont. The office maintains registries and records including the state archives, corporate filings, and professional certifying rolls as required by statutes passed by the Vermont General Assembly and administered by officials appointed or elected in sessions at the Vermont State House.
Statutory and constitutional duties include supervision of elections, certification of statewide returns to the Vermont General Assembly and the United States Senate when applicable, administration of the notary public commission process, and management of the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration. The Secretary enforces compliance with campaign finance reporting under laws enacted by the Vermont General Assembly and works with the Federal Election Commission on federal filing coordination. Corporate oversight covers filings for entities such as corporations, LLCs, and partnerships under statutes referencing the Vermont Statutes Annotated. The office also oversees the Vermont State Library's administrative records, issues driver registration-related business documents tied to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, and serves on boards including the Vermont Land Records Modernization Advisory Board.
The Secretary is elected at-large in biennial statewide elections coinciding with Vermont's congressional and presidential cycles, as determined by the Constitution of Vermont and state election statutes. Eligible candidates must meet residency and age requirements set by state law; elections are administered by the incumbent office in cooperation with municipal clerks and overseen by the Vermont Superior Court when disputes arise. The office carries a two-year term with no term limits; transitions have occurred after statewide contests involving political parties such as the Vermont Democratic Party, Vermont Republican Party, and Progressive Party.
Divisions include Elections and Campaign Finance, Professional Regulation, Corporations, Records Management and Archives, and Administrative Services. The office employs staff with expertise linked to agencies like the Vermont Department of Health for credentialing intersections, the Vermont Secretary of State's Office Elections Division for ballot access and voter registration coordination with municipal clerks, and technical teams that interact with vendors used by the Help America Vote Act-related procurements. Security and records preservation work with the National Archives and Records Administration standards and partnerships with academic institutions such as the University of Vermont for digital retention projects.
Created during the era of the Vermont Republic and continued after admission to the United States in 1791, the office has evolved from manual ledger-keeping to electronic records and statewide election tabulation. Early holders like Thomas Chittenden and other 18th- and 19th-century leaders administered land records tied to Vermont land grants and local charters. In the 20th century, reforms paralleled national movements involving the Civil Rights Movement, Help America Vote Act, and modernization influenced by organizations such as the National Association of Secretaries of State. Technological shifts in the 21st century brought cybersecurity concerns in concert with federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Noteworthy Secretaries who shaped the office include F. Ray Keyser Jr. (later Governor of Vermont), long-serving administrators who modernized records systems, and reformers aligned with parties such as the Vermont Democratic Party and Vermont Republican Party. Other prominent figures have engaged with national groups including the National Association of Secretaries of State and influenced election law debates involving the United States Supreme Court and federal statutes.
Recent initiatives include modernization of voter registration systems, partnerships for voter roll maintenance with municipal clerks, enhancement of online business filing platforms, and archival digitization projects in collaboration with the University of Vermont Libraries and the Vermont Historical Society. Controversies have centered on election security, ballot access disputes adjudicated in the Vermont Superior Court and public debates involving parties such as the Progressive Party, and procurement decisions related to voting technology vendors scrutinized by advocacy groups and federal advisory bodies.
Category:State constitutional officers of Vermont