Colorado Secretary of State

Colorado Secretary of State. The Colorado Secretary of State is one of the five elected state offices in the U.S. state of Colorado. The office is responsible for a wide range of duties, including election administration, business registration, and campaign finance disclosure, as mandated by the Colorado Constitution and the Colorado Revised Statutes. The current secretary is Jena Griswold, a member of the Democratic Party, who has been in office since 2019 and has worked with Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

History

The office of the Colorado Secretary of State was established in 1861, when Colorado was still a territory, with William N. Byers as the first secretary, who worked closely with Territorial Governor William Gilpin. The secretary's duties have evolved over time, with significant changes occurring in the 1970s and 1980s, under the leadership of secretaries such as Natalie Meyer and Victoria Buckley, who worked with Colorado Governor Richard Lamm and Colorado Senator Gary Hart. Today, the office is responsible for a wide range of duties, including election administration, business registration, and campaign finance disclosure, as mandated by the Colorado Constitution and the Colorado Revised Statutes, and has worked with organizations such as the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors.

Duties and responsibilities

The Colorado Secretary of State has a wide range of duties and responsibilities, including election administration, business registration, and campaign finance disclosure, as mandated by the Colorado Constitution and the Colorado Revised Statutes. The secretary is also responsible for maintaining the state's official records, including the Colorado State Archives and the Colorado State Library, which are housed in the Colorado State Capitol building in Denver, Colorado. The secretary works closely with other state officials, including the Colorado Governor, Colorado Attorney General, and Colorado Treasurer, as well as with local election officials, such as the Denver Clerk and Recorder and the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder. The secretary also collaborates with federal agencies, such as the Federal Election Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, to ensure compliance with federal election laws, including the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act.

Election administration

The Colorado Secretary of State plays a critical role in election administration in Colorado, working closely with local election officials, such as the Denver Clerk and Recorder and the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the state's elections, as mandated by the Colorado Election Code and the Help America Vote Act. The secretary is responsible for maintaining the state's voter registration database, which is used by local election officials to verify voter eligibility, and for providing training and support to local election officials, as well as for conducting audits and investigations to ensure compliance with state and federal election laws, including the National Voter Registration Act and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. The secretary also works with federal agencies, such as the Federal Election Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, to ensure compliance with federal election laws, and has partnered with organizations such as the National Association of State Election Directors and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to enhance election security.

Business and licensing

The Colorado Secretary of State is also responsible for business registration and licensing in Colorado, working closely with the Colorado Department of Revenue and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade to support business development and job creation in the state, as mandated by the Colorado Business Corporation Act and the Colorado Limited Liability Company Act. The secretary maintains a database of all businesses registered in the state, including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships, and provides information and resources to businesses and entrepreneurs, including the Small Business Administration and the Colorado Small Business Development Centers. The secretary also works with other state agencies, such as the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, to ensure compliance with state laws and regulations, including the Colorado Wage Act and the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.

List of officeholders

The following is a list of individuals who have served as Colorado Secretary of State, including William N. Byers, Natalie Meyer, and Victoria Buckley, who have worked with Colorado Governor Richard Lamm and Colorado Senator Gary Hart. Other notable secretaries include Donetta Davidson, who served from 1999 to 2005 and worked with Colorado Governor Bill Owens, and Mike Coffman, who served from 2007 to 2009 and worked with Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. The current secretary is Jena Griswold, a member of the Democratic Party, who has been in office since 2019 and has worked with Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

Elections and tenure

The Colorado Secretary of State is elected to a four-year term, with elections held in November of even-numbered years, as mandated by the Colorado Constitution and the Colorado Election Code. The secretary is limited to serving two consecutive terms, but may serve again after a four-year period, as specified in the Colorado Term Limits Amendment. The secretary must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Colorado for at least two years prior to election, as required by the Colorado Constitution and the Colorado Revised Statutes. The secretary is also subject to recall, as provided for in the Colorado Constitution and the Colorado Revised Statutes, and has worked with organizations such as the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors to promote election integrity and transparency.