The State Capitol in Salem houses the central offices of the Secretary of State. Most division offices are in the Public Service Building. (Oregon State Archives Photo)
The Secretary of State is one of three constitutional offices established at statehood and is the auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, public records administrator and custodian of the State Seal.
The secretary interprets and applies state election laws, compiles and publishes the Voters’ Pamphlet and supervises all elections, local and statewide. He examines and audits accounts of all publicly funded boards, commissions and agencies.
He keeps public records of businesses authorized to transact business in Oregon, nonprofit corporations, and trade and service marks. Other public business records include notices of security interests in movable and personal property, statutory liens and warrants.
As the public records administrator, the secretary houses and provides access to the permanently valuable records of state government through the Archives Division and manages all public records for retention and disposition.
The secretary shares responsibility with the governor and treasurer for supervising and managing state-owned lands and chairs the Oregon Sustainability Board which works to optimize organizations’ financial, environmental and social performance. He also regulates Oregon notaries public, and publishes the Oregon Blue Book.
Oregon does not have a lieutenant governor. If the office of governor becomes vacant, the office passes to the secretary of state.
Information about this agency's divisions, offices, programs, etc.
Contact Information
Mailing Address: 136 State Capitol, Salem 97310-0722
Phone: 503-986-1523
Fax: 503-986-1616
Contact: Dennis Richardson, Secretary of State; Leslie Cummings, Deputy Secretary of State
Legal and Legislative Information
Records, Publications and General Information
Biography - a brief sketch about the secretary of state's background and role
State Archives Holdings from This Agency
The following are selected abbreviated listings from the holdings of the Oregon State Archives. Additional records may be available. These records may be viewed free of charge at the State Archives Building in Salem. Copies are available for a fee.
Take the Web tour for more information about visiting or ordering copies from the Oregon State Archives.
Title: Management Council Records
Dates: 1991-1996
Cubic Ft.: .2
Title: Administrative Correspondence: Archives Division
Dates: 1946-1984
Cubic Ft.: 13
Title: Administrative correspondence: Elections Division
Dates: 1953-1980
Cubic Ft.: 7.5
Title: Adoption name change record
Dates: 1907-1922
Cubic Ft.: 1
Volumes: 1
Title: Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition Commission records
Dates: 1907-1910
Cubic Ft.: .25
Volumes: 1
Title: Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition Oregon Library Commission exhibit
Dates: 1909
Volumes: 1
Title: Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition Oregon Provisional Commission minutes
Dates: 1907-1910
Volumes: 1
Title: Boxing Commission Advisory Board minutes
Dates: 1919-1928
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Capitol building mural documents
Dates: ca. 1938
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Capitol Grounds tree names
Dates: no date
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Commissions register
Dates: 1859-1913
Volumes: 12
Title: Correspondence: Secretary of State
Dates: 1859-1997
Cubic Ft.: 82.55
Title: Executive action journals
Dates: 1849-1942
Volumes: 7
Title: Executive letters
Dates: 1854-1878
Volumes: 2
Title: Expo '86 final report
Dates: 1986
Cubic Ft.: .5
Title: Farm name applications
Dates: 1911-1964
Cubic Ft.: 2
Title: Farm name index
Dates: 1911-1964
Cubic Ft.: .75
Title: Farm name registration record
Dates: 1911-1916
Volumes: 1
Title: Forest Resources Trust
Dates: 1991-1999
Cubic Ft.: 2
Title: Governor records
Dates: 1859-1864
Cubic Ft.: .5
Title: Imprisonment for indeterminate periods record
Dates: 1905-1908
Volumes: 1
Title: Insanity commitment index
Dates: 1899-1923
Volumes: 2
Title: Legislative correspondence
Dates: 1924-1963
Cubic Ft.: 1
Title: Legislative enrolled bills
Dates: 1859-1999
Cubic Ft.: 62
Title: Legislative journals
Dates: 1923-1987
Cubic Ft.: 193
Title: Legislative records
Dates: 1851-1957
Cubic Ft.: 66.25
Title: Legislative tracking files
Dates: 1991-1999
Cubic Ft.: 3
Title: Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission fiscal records
Dates: 1904-1905
Cubic Ft.: .33
Title: Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission general files
Dates: 1903-1906
Cubic Ft.: 1
Title: Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission general ledger
Dates: 1903-1906
Volumes: 1
Title: Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission journal
Dates: 1903-1906
Volumes: 1
Title: Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission ledger
Dates: 1903-1906
Volumes: 1
Title: Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission visitor's register
Dates: 1905
Volumes: 1
Title: Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission voucher journal
Dates: 1903-1906
Volumes: 1
Title: Louisiana Purchase Exposition photographs
Dates: 1904
Cubic Ft.: 1
Title: Management Council Records
Dates: 1991-1996
Cubic Ft.: .2
Title: Military allowance for Oregon National Guard
Dates: 1909-1912
Volumes: 1
Title: Military bounty claim index
Dates: 1901-1905
Volumes: 3
Title: Mines list
Dates: 1939
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Oregon Rural Rehabilitation Corporation records
Dates: 1935-1942
Volumes: 6
Title: Oregon Rural Rehabilitation Corporation trustees minutes
Dates: 1934-1942
Volumes: 6
Title: Public Records Advisory Council records
Dates: 1991-1993
Cubic Ft.: 1.5
Volumes: 72
Title: Soldiers and Sailors Commission records
Dates: 1920-1936
Cubic Ft.: .5
Title: Speeches - Secretary Phil Keisling
Dates: 1991-1999
Cubic Ft.: 4
Title: State agency plans
Dates: 1937-1940
Cubic Ft.: .5
Title: State Emergency Relief Administration project records
Dates: 1936
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: State Seal Records
Dates: 1859-1951
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Supreme Court records
Dates: 1859-1864
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Treasurer records
Dates: 1862-1867
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Treasurer's semi-annual reports
Dates: 1923-1928
Cubic Ft.: .5
Title: U. S. Constitutional amendment
Dates: 1992
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Motor vehicle application
Dates: 1911
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Motor vehicle book of makes
Dates: 1929
Cubic Ft.: .25
Title: Motor Vehicle Driver's license application
Dates: 1905
Cubic Ft.: .1
Title: Motor vehicle registration records
Dates: 1905-1920
Volumes: 17