Kansas Secretary of State

Kansas Secretary of State is the chief elections official and the chief Notary Public of the U.S. state of Kansas, responsible for maintaining public records, overseeing the state's elections, and regulating business in the state, as mandated by the Kansas Constitution and the Kansas Statutes. The office is also responsible for maintaining the official records of the Kansas Legislature and the Governor of Kansas, including the State of the State address delivered by the Governor of Kansas to the Kansas Legislature. The Kansas Secretary of State works closely with the Kansas Attorney General and the Kansas State Treasurer to ensure the integrity of the state's elections and the accuracy of public records, as required by the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act.

History

The office of the Kansas Secretary of State was established in 1861, when Kansas was admitted to the United States as the 34th state, with John W. Robinson as the first Secretary of State. The office has undergone several changes over the years, with the addition of new responsibilities and duties, as mandated by the Kansas Constitution and the Kansas Statutes. The Kansas Secretary of State has played a crucial role in the state's history, including the Bleeding Kansas era, the American Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement, working closely with notable figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther King Jr.. The office has also worked with various organizations, including the National Association of Secretaries of State, the National Association of State Election Directors, and the League of Women Voters, to promote voter registration and education, as required by the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act.

Duties and responsibilities

The Kansas Secretary of State is responsible for a wide range of duties and responsibilities, including maintaining public records, overseeing the state's elections, and regulating business in the state, as mandated by the Kansas Constitution and the Kansas Statutes. The office is also responsible for issuing notary public commissions, apostilles, and authentications, as required by the Uniform Law Commission and the Hague Convention. The Kansas Secretary of State works closely with the Kansas Attorney General and the Kansas State Treasurer to ensure the integrity of the state's elections and the accuracy of public records, as required by the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act. The office also collaborates with the Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and the National Association of State Election Directors to promote voter registration and education, as required by the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act.

List of officeholders

There have been 27 Secretaries of State in Kansas since the office was established in 1861, including John W. Robinson, William H. Small, and Ron Thornburgh. Other notable officeholders include Elwill Shane, Frank J. Ryan, and Chris Biggs, who have all played important roles in shaping the state's elections and public records, as mandated by the Kansas Constitution and the Kansas Statutes. The current Secretary of State is Scott Schwab, who was elected in 2018 and took office on January 14, 2019, succeeding Kris Kobach, who served as Secretary of State from 2011 to 2019. The office has also been held by notable figures such as Joan Finney, the first female Governor of Kansas, and Bill Graves, a former Governor of Kansas.

Elections and appointment

The Kansas Secretary of State is elected to a four-year term in the Kansas general election, as mandated by the Kansas Constitution and the Kansas Statutes. The office is partisan, with the Republican Party and the Democratic Party typically fielding candidates, as required by the Federal Election Campaign Act and the Kansas Election Laws. The Kansas Secretary of State is also a member of the Kansas State Board of Canvassers, which is responsible for certifying the results of state elections, as required by the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act. The office works closely with the Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and the National Association of State Election Directors to promote voter registration and education, as required by the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act.

Office and contact information

The office of the Kansas Secretary of State is located in the Kansas State Capitol building in Topeka, Kansas, and can be contacted through the office's website or by phone, as required by the Kansas Open Records Act and the Kansas Open Meetings Act. The office is open to the public and provides a range of services, including voter registration, election information, and business filings, as mandated by the Kansas Constitution and the Kansas Statutes. The Kansas Secretary of State also maintains a presence on social media, including Twitter and Facebook, to provide updates and information to the public, as required by the Federal Election Campaign Act and the Kansas Election Laws. The office works closely with the Kansas Attorney General and the Kansas State Treasurer to ensure the integrity of the state's elections and the accuracy of public records, as required by the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act. Category:Kansas