Secretary of State of West Virginia

Secretary of State of West Virginia
Original Author Joseph H. Diss Debar (1863) · Public domain · source
Post	Secretary of State of West Virginia
Incumbent	Mac Warner
Incumbentsince	2017
Residence	Charleston, West Virginia
Style	The Honorable
Termlength	Four years, renewable
Formation	1863
Inaugural	Jacob B. Jackson

Secretary of State of West Virginia is a statewide constitutional officer in West Virginia charged with administering elections, maintaining public records, and registering businesses. The office interacts with entities such as the West Virginia Legislature, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, United States Department of Justice, Federal Election Commission, and National Association of Secretaries of State. The Secretary coordinates with county clerks, municipal clerks, and federal agencies while implementing statutes enacted by the West Virginia Legislature and interpreted by the United States Supreme Court.

Office Overview

The office, established by the West Virginia Constitution of 1863, serves as the custodian of the Great Seal of West Virginia, corporate charters, and official votes canvassed under statutes like the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Secretary maintains liaison relationships with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration, United States Census Bureau, and regional bodies such as the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.

History

The office originated after secessionist and Unionist conflicts culminated in the creation of West Virginia during the American Civil War and the 1863 state constitution. Early Secretaries interacted with figures such as Francis H. Pierpont and dealt with Reconstruction-era issues shaped by the Thirteenth Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment, and federal Reconstruction policies. Throughout the Progressive Era, administrations implemented reforms influenced by national actors including Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Twentieth-century Secretaries navigated regulatory changes prompted by the New Deal and wartime mobilization during World War II. More recent officeholders responded to federal court rulings like Bush v. Gore and state-level legislation following the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision.

Duties and Powers

Statutory and constitutional duties include administering statewide elections under provisions that reference the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and coordinating with the Federal Election Commission on campaign finance disclosures. The Secretary oversees corporate registration under codes influenced by models from the Model Business Corporation Act and files liens using systems related to the Uniform Commercial Code. The office maintains archives pertinent to events such as the Battle of Blair Mountain and certifies official acts for the Governor of West Virginia, the West Virginia Legislature, and delegations to the United States Congress. Regulatory powers intersect with bodies like the Securities and Exchange Commission when processing filings for registrants and with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regarding corporate compliance disclosures.

Organization and Staff

The Secretary's office comprises divisions parallel to counterparts in other states, including Elections, Business & Licensing, Securities, and Administrative Services; these divisions coordinate with county officials such as county clerks and municipal clerks across regions including Kanawha County, Monongalia County, and Berkeley County. The office employs professionals with backgrounds tied to institutions like West Virginia University, Marshall University, and legal training from schools such as the West Virginia University College of Law. The Secretary may appoint deputies and liaisons to work with associations including the National Association of Secretaries of State, the State Administrative Conference of the United States, and regional nonpartisan bodies.

Elections and Term

The Secretary is elected statewide in partisan elections concurrent with other statewide races that include contests for Governor of West Virginia and seats in the United States Senate. Terms are four years as established by state law and constitutional provisions; eligibility, vacancy succession, and oath requirements derive from the West Virginia Constitution of 1863 and subsequent amendments ratified by state voters. Campaign finance filings interact with federal disclosures overseen by the Federal Election Commission when candidates for federal office appear on primary ballots, and the Secretary certifies ballot access in coordination with county boards of canvassers and the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals when disputes arise.

Notable Officeholders

Notable Secretaries include early officeholders like Jacob B. Jackson who later engaged with state politics during the Reconstruction era, Secretaries who served during the Progressive Era and Great Depression, and recent figures who overlapped with national events such as September 11 attacks and decisions stemming from the Supreme Court of the United States. Modern Secretaries have engaged with national organizations like the National Association of Secretaries of State and implemented policies influenced by federal statutes including the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and rulings from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Officeholders by Year and Party

- 1863–1865: Jacob B. Jackson (Republican) - 1865–1867: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1867–1871: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 1871–1875: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1875–1881: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 1881–1885: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1885–1893: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 1893–1901: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1901–1905: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 1905–1913: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1913–1921: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 1921–1929: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1929–1937: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 1937–1945: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1945–1953: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 1953–1961: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1961–1969: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 1969–1977: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1977–1985: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 1985–1993: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 1993–2001: [Officeholder] (Democrat) - 2001–2009: [Officeholder] (Republican) - 2009–2017: Natalie Tennant (Democrat) - 2017–present: Mac Warner (Republican) Category:West Virginia