Idaho Secretary of State

Idaho Secretary of State is a constitutional office in the United States and one of the six elected executive offices in the state of Idaho. The office is responsible for a wide range of duties, including overseeing Idaho elections, maintaining public records, and serving as the keeper of the seal of the state of Idaho. The Idaho Secretary of State also serves on the Idaho Board of Canvassers and the Idaho Historical Society. The current Idaho Secretary of State is Lawerence Denney, a former member of the Idaho House of Representatives and Idaho Senate.

History

The office of the Idaho Secretary of State was established in 1863, when Idaho Territory was created by the United States Congress. The first Idaho Secretary of State was William H. Wallace, who served from 1863 to 1864. Since then, the office has been held by numerous individuals, including Silas D. Wixon, who served from 1885 to 1887, and Robert A. Simons, who served from 1901 to 1903. The Idaho Secretary of State has played a significant role in the state's history, including the Idaho Statehood movement, which was led by figures such as William Borah and Frank Gooding. The office has also been involved in various Idaho Supreme Court cases, including State ex rel. Evans v. Shoup and State v. Davis.

Election and succession

The Idaho Secretary of State is elected to a four-year term in the same year as the President of the United States. The election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, and the winner is determined by a plurality vote. The Idaho Secretary of State must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Idaho for at least two years prior to the election. In the event of a vacancy, the Idaho Governor appoints a replacement, subject to confirmation by the Idaho Senate. The Idaho Secretary of State is also subject to impeachment by the Idaho House of Representatives and trial by the Idaho Senate, as outlined in the Idaho Constitution and the United States Constitution.

Duties and responsibilities

The Idaho Secretary of State has a wide range of duties and responsibilities, including overseeing Idaho elections, maintaining public records, and serving as the keeper of the seal of the state of Idaho. The office is also responsible for registering business entities, such as corporations and limited liability companies, and maintaining the state's Uniform Commercial Code records. The Idaho Secretary of State serves on various boards and commissions, including the Idaho Board of Canvassers and the Idaho Historical Society. The office also works closely with other state agencies, such as the Idaho Department of State and the Idaho Office of the Attorney General, to ensure the smooth operation of state government. The Idaho Secretary of State is also a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State and the Western Governors' Association.

List of officeholders

There have been numerous Idaho Secretary of State officeholders since the office was established in 1863. Some notable officeholders include William H. Wallace, Silas D. Wixon, and Robert A. Simons. Other notable officeholders include Frank W. Hunt, who served from 1901 to 1903, and Robert E. Smylie, who served from 1955 to 1967. The current Idaho Secretary of State is Lawerence Denney, who has served since 2015. Other recent officeholders include Ben Ysursa, who served from 2003 to 2015, and Pete Cenarrusa, who served from 1967 to 2003. The office has been held by members of both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, including Cecil D. Andrus and Don Samuelson.

Recent elections and controversies

The Idaho Secretary of State has been involved in several recent elections and controversies, including the 2018 Idaho elections and the 2020 United States presidential election in Idaho. The office has also been involved in various Idaho Supreme Court cases, including State ex rel. Evans v. Shoup and State v. Davis. The Idaho Secretary of State has worked closely with other state agencies, such as the Idaho Department of State and the Idaho Office of the Attorney General, to ensure the integrity of the state's elections. The office has also been a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State and the Western Governors' Association, and has worked with other states to address issues such as voter registration and election security. The Idaho Secretary of State has also been involved in various Federal Election Commission cases, including FEC v. Idaho Republican Party, and has worked with United States Congress members, such as Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, to address issues related to election law and voting rights.