About Us
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The Oregon Secretary of State is one of three constitutional offices created at statehood. As an independent constitutional officer, the Secretary of State answers directly and solely to the people of Oregon.
The Secretary’s Vision
As Servant Leaders, we will apply experience, knowledge, and abilities to improve transparency, accountability, and integrity in Oregon government.
Our Mission
The Secretary of State is committed to:
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Serving our community by building relationships and focusing on equity for all Oregonians.
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Upholding the Constitution and the laws of the state of Oregon.
Encouraging voter participation and maximizing access while ensuring election integrity.
Ensuring taxpayers receive maximum value for their tax dollars and protection of their privacy and personal information.
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Building Oregon’s economy by making it easier to start and do business in Oregon, removing barriers, providing small business assistance, and creating an environment where new businesses can grow, prosper, and create family-wage jobs.
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Preserving and promoting accessibility to Oregon’s public records for the benefit of all peoples.
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Empowering Oregonians by providing timely and accurate information about their government, connecting through outreach activities, and protecting whistle blowers.
We Value
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We value the people of Oregon: our staff, our customers, our partners, and our stakeholders.
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We value the character of Oregon: liberty, equality, equity, loyalty, honesty, security, diversity, and sustainability.
The Secretary of State employs approximately 220 full-time, part-time, and temporary employees. The Secretary oversees the functions of four program divisions: Archives, Audits, Corporations, Elections and three support divisions: Business Services, Information Systems, and Human Resources.
Oregon is the only state where the Secretary of State is responsible for auditing public spending. In addition, the Secretary serves on the State Board of Education as an Ex Officio member, and he serves with the Governor and Treasurer on the State Land Board managing and overseeing Oregon’s Common School Fund. Oregon does not have a Lieutenant Governor, therefore, the Secretary of State serves in this capacity.