As chief auditor of public accounts, the Secretary of State set a clear direction for the division: Build trust by providing objective assurance that state government is fulfilling its responsibilities to Oregonians. The Audits Division makes a difference by performing nonpartisan work that aims to improve state government performance and operations, reduce costs to taxpayers, facilitate decision making, and contribute to public accountability.
Auditors ensure public funds are spent as legally required, used to their best advantage, and properly accounted for. Audits are conducted in compliance with stringent professional standards and use robust analytical tools and research methods. All reports are publicly available.
The aim is to build trust between Oregonians and their government while increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of state and local government.
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Business Services Division
The Secretary of State’s office ensures efficiency and fiscal accountability by centralizing essential administrative work within the Business Services Division.
The division’s responsibilities include fiscal planning and financial statement reporting, budget development and monitoring, payroll administration, disbursement of funds, cash management, and collections. In addition, the Business Services Division manages procurement activities for the Secretary of State, ensuring cost-effective and transparent acquisition of goods and services. The division also oversees facilities, safety management, and emergency preparedness for all agency locations.
Through these efforts, the Business Services Division promotes a culture of safety, accountability, and efficiency across the organization.
Visit the Corporation Division when you’re ready to register a business, become a notary, file or search a lien, or authenticate documents for use abroad. The division makes these processes fast and easy, with most services available online: Oregon Business Registry, Business Name Search, Uniform Commercial Code search and filing.
The Office of Small Business Assistance is seated within the Corporation Division. This team helps small businesses and nonprofits (0–100 employees) navigate state and local government. The team serves as your ombudsman, ready to listen, answer questions, and help when you’re not sure where to turn.
Learn more about the team or
contact them to get help.
You can also explore
Business Information Center for quick access to guides and resources to start, operate, and grow your business.
Contact the Corporation Division >
The Elections Division ensures secure, fair, transparent, and accessible elections for all eligible voters. We manage voter registration, oversee elections in partnership with counties, publish the Voters’ Pamphlet, and investigate campaign finance and election laws. We also administer the process for statewide petitions, including initiatives, referenda, and recalls, ensuring compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. Committed to accuracy and integrity, we work to protect election systems, support civic participation, and uphold public trust in Oregon’s democratic process.
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This division serves the Secretary’s most valued asset: The employees. Recruiting and retaining exceptionally talented team members is Human Resources’ core function.
The team interprets state and federal employment laws and, with the addition of the agency’s own policies and procedures, guides their application. Employee development andperformance management are top priorities.
The Oregon Secretary of State encourages collaboration to build an effective organization. HRsupports that approach. First by developing a talented and diverse staff, then by ensuring that employees at all levels are challenged, appreciated and engaged.
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Information Systems Division
The division provides secure information technology systems and services to the entire Secretary of State’s office. The infrastructure, service delivery, security, applications, and project management teams empowers our business divisions to engage Oregonians.
While most work is behind the scenes, the team is proud to support public-facing assets like the website and ensuring secure access to online agency services.
The Archives Division is responsible for preserving and providing access to state government records.
The Cecil L. Edwards Archives Building houses the Oregon’s permanently valuable records. Archivists connect the public to those records, either by sending digital copies or making appointments for people to do their own research in the building’s reading room.
Records managers within the division offer assistance to state and local government agencies and run the State Records Center, which provides inexpensive storage for inactive records. Archives Division staff also publish the Oregon Administrative Rules and produce the Oregon Blue Book, the state’s almanac and factbook.
Contact the State Archives Division >