National Association of Secretaries of State

National Association of Secretaries of State is a non-partisan organization that brings together the chief election officials of the United States, including Alabama Secretary of State, Alaska Secretary of State, Arizona Secretary of State, and Arkansas Secretary of State, to discuss and address issues related to voting rights, election security, and state government. The organization works closely with other state and federal agencies, such as the Federal Election Commission, National Association of State Election Directors, and United States Election Assistance Commission, to promote fair and efficient elections. Members of the organization, including California Secretary of State, Colorado Secretary of State, and Connecticut Secretary of State, also collaborate with National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, and United States Conference of Mayors to address issues affecting local governments.

● History

The organization was founded in 1904 by a group of secretaries of state, including James A. Mount of Indiana and Charles G. Dawes of Illinois, with the goal of promoting cooperation and information-sharing among the chief election officials of the United States. Over the years, the organization has grown to include all 50 secretaries of state, including Delaware Secretary of State, Florida Secretary of State, and Georgia Secretary of State, and has become a leading voice on issues related to election reform, voter registration, and election administration. The organization has worked with notable figures, such as Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Nelson Rockefeller, to promote democracy and good governance in the United States and around the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine. The organization has also partnered with International Foundation for Electoral Systems, National Democratic Institute, and International Republican Institute to support election observation and democracy promotion efforts globally.

● Membership

The organization has a membership of 50 secretaries of state, each representing one of the 50 states of the United States, including Hawaii Secretary of State, Idaho Secretary of State, and Illinois Secretary of State. Members of the organization, including Indiana Secretary of State, Iowa Secretary of State, and Kansas Secretary of State, are elected or appointed to their positions and serve as the chief election officials of their respective states. The organization also has associate members, including District of Columbia Secretary, Puerto Rico Secretary of State, and United States Virgin Islands Secretary of State, who participate in the organization's activities and contribute to its mission. The organization works closely with other state and local government organizations, such as National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, and United States Conference of Mayors, to address issues affecting local governments and promote good governance.

● Mission_and_Objectives

The mission of the organization is to promote excellence in election administration, voter registration, and election security through the sharing of best practices, research, and expertise among its members, including Kentucky Secretary of State, Louisiana Secretary of State, and Maine Secretary of State. The organization's objectives include promoting fair and efficient elections, voting rights, and election reform, as well as providing training and education to election officials and voter registration administrators. The organization also works to promote public awareness and education about the importance of voting and civic engagement, including partnering with League of Women Voters, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, and NAACP to promote voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.

● Organization_and_Leadership

The organization is led by a president, currently Kim Wyman of Washington Secretary of State, who serves as the chief executive officer of the organization. The organization also has a board of directors, composed of secretaries of state from each of the 50 states, including Maryland Secretary of State, Massachusetts Secretary of State, and Michigan Secretary of State, which provides strategic direction and oversight. The organization has a secretariat, located in Washington, D.C., which provides administrative support and coordination for the organization's activities, including working with United States Department of State, Federal Election Commission, and National Archives and Records Administration to promote election security and voting rights.

● Initiatives_and_Programs

The organization has a number of initiatives and programs aimed at promoting excellence in election administration, including the National Association of Secretaries of State Election Security Program, which provides training and education to election officials on election security best practices. The organization also has a voter registration initiative, which aims to promote voter registration and voting rights through partnerships with state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and private sector companies, including Facebook, Google, and Microsoft. The organization has also launched a cybersecurity initiative, which provides training and education to election officials on cybersecurity best practices and threat assessment, including working with Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and National Institute of Standards and Technology to promote election security.

● Conferences_and_Meetings

The organization holds an annual National Association of Secretaries of State Summer Conference, which brings together secretaries of state and other election officials to discuss issues related to election administration, voter registration, and election security. The organization also holds a National Association of Secretaries of State Winter Conference, which focuses on election reform, voting rights, and election administration best practices. The organization's conferences and meetings provide opportunities for secretaries of state and other election officials to share best practices, discuss common challenges, and learn from each other's experiences, including hearing from notable speakers, such as Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, on issues related to democracy and good governance. The organization has also partnered with International Foundation for Electoral Systems, National Democratic Institute, and International Republican Institute to support election observation and democracy promotion efforts globally, including in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.