Arizona Secretary of State
Arizona Secretary of State | |
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General information | |
Office Type: | Partisan |
Office website: | Official Link |
Compensation: | $70,000 |
2024 FY Budget: | $29,657,400 |
Term limits: | Two consecutive terms |
Structure | |
Length of term: | 4 years |
Authority: | Arizona Constitution, Article 5, Section 1 (Version 2) |
Selection Method: | Elected |
Current Officeholder | |
Arizona Secretary of State
Adrian Fontes | |
Elections | |
Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
Other Arizona Executive Offices | |
Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Superintendent of Public Instruction• Auditor• Agriculture Director • Insurance and Financial Institutions Director• Lands Commissioner• Labor Director• Corporation Commission• State Mine Inspector |
The Arizona Secretary of State is an elected state executive officer in Arizona. His or her responsibilities range from publishing state laws and rules to serving as the chief election officer. The secretary is also keeper of the great seal of the state and oversees the registration of business partnerships and trademarks in Arizona.
Arizona's Secretary of State is unique, as he or she serves as acting governor when the governor is absent or otherwise unable to serve. This duty is usually fulfilled by the lieutenant governor in other states, an office that does not exist in Arizona.
Arizona has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Arizona Secretary of State is Adrian Fontes (D). Fontes assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The office of secretary of state is established by the Arizona Constitution as part of the state's executive department.
Arizona Constitution, Article 5, Section 1 (Version 2)
The executive department shall consist of the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction... |
Qualifications
The Arizona Constitution requires all of the officers in the state's executive department, including the secretary of state, to be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for 10 years, and an Arizona resident for five years.
Arizona Constitution, Article 5, Section 2
No person shall be eligible to any of the offices mentioned in section 1 of this article except a person of the age of not less than twenty-five years, who shall have been for ten years next preceding his election a citizen of the United States, and for five years next preceding his election a citizen of Arizona. |
Elections
Arizonans elect their secretary of state in midterm election years (2006, 2010, 2014, etc.) for a term of four years. The winner assumes office on the first Monday of January after his or her election. If no candidate receives a majority (over 50 percent) of the votes, a runoff election is held between the two candidates that received the largest amount. If the two candidates in the runoff receive an equal number of votes, the state legislature chooses a winner.
Secretaries of state hold office from the first Monday of January following the year they are elected.
Arizona Constitution, Article 5, Section 1 (Version 2)
A. The executive department shall consist of the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction, each of whom shall hold office for a term of four years beginning on the first Monday of January, 1971 next after the regular general election in 1970.
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2022
General election
General election for Arizona Secretary of State
Adrian Fontes defeated Mark Finchem in the general election for Arizona Secretary of State on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Adrian Fontes (D) ![]() | 52.4 | 1,320,619 |
![]() | Mark Finchem (R) | 47.6 | 1,200,411 |
Total votes: 2,521,030 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Peter Yeaple (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arizona Secretary of State
Adrian Fontes defeated Reginald Bolding in the Democratic primary for Arizona Secretary of State on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Adrian Fontes ![]() | 52.5 | 302,681 |
![]() | Reginald Bolding | 47.5 | 273,815 |
Total votes: 576,496 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Dennis Florian (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arizona Secretary of State
Mark Finchem defeated Beau Lane, Shawnna Bolick, and Michelle Ugenti-Rita in the Republican primary for Arizona Secretary of State on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mark Finchem | 42.6 | 329,884 |
![]() | Beau Lane ![]() | 23.4 | 181,058 | |
![]() | Shawnna Bolick ![]() | 19.3 | 149,779 | |
![]() | Michelle Ugenti-Rita | 14.8 | 114,391 |
Total votes: 775,112 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Wade Wilson (R)
- Remo Paul (R)
2018
General election
General election for Arizona Secretary of State
Katie Hobbs defeated Steve Gaynor in the general election for Arizona Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Katie Hobbs (D) | 50.4 | 1,176,384 | |
![]() | Steve Gaynor (R) | 49.6 | 1,156,132 |
Total votes: 2,332,516 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arizona Secretary of State
Katie Hobbs advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona Secretary of State on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Katie Hobbs | 100.0 | 465,668 |
Total votes: 465,668 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Leslie Pico (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arizona Secretary of State
Steve Gaynor defeated incumbent Michele Reagan in the Republican primary for Arizona Secretary of State on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Steve Gaynor | 66.7 | 414,332 |
![]() | Michele Reagan | 33.3 | 206,988 |
Total votes: 621,320 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kevin Gibbons (R)
2014
Secretary of State of Arizona, 2014 | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
52.2% | 779,226 | |
Democratic | Terry Goddard | 47.8% | 712,918 | |
Total Votes | 1,492,144 | |||
Election results via Arizona Secretary of State |
Term limits
Term limits for the secretary of state are defined by Article 5, Section 1, Version 2 of the Arizona Constitution, which prohibits a secretary of state from serving more than two consecutive terms.
Arizona Constitution, Article 5, Section 1A, Version 2:
The executive department shall consist of the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction, each of whom shall hold office for a term of four years beginning on the first Monday of January, 1971 next after the regular general election in 1970. No member of the executive department shall hold that office for more than two consecutive terms. This limitation on the number of terms of consecutive service shall apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1993. No member of the executive department after serving the maximum number of terms, which shall include any part of a term served, may serve in the same office until out of office for no less than one full term. |
Vacancies
Article 5, Section 8 of the state Constitution allows governor to fill vacancies in the office of secretary of state by appointment.
Duties
The secretary of state has a variety of administrative duties, mostly related to keeping official records and managing elections. In addition to the responsibilities common to the office in other states, the Arizona Secretary of State takes over the office of governor in the event of a vacancy in the office or the incumbent is unable to discharge his duties. This is a duty that most commonly falls to lieutenant governors, but Arizona does not have that office.
The secretary also:[1]
- Certifies witnessing officers on documents transmitted to foreign countries (apostilles).
- Keeps the Great Seal of the State of Arizona and affixes it to all official documents.
- Files "official administrative rules of state agencies and maintains the rules of state agencies adopted under the Arizona Administrative Procedure Act."
- Publishes the Arizona Administrative Code and the Arizona Administrative Register
- Registers limited partnerships, foreign partnerships and limited liability partnerships.
- Serves as chief election officer for the state of Arizona. Certifies candidates, ballot measures, election results, and registers lobbyists and campaign finance reports. The secretary also trains election officials and tests voting devices used by individual counties.
- Registers trade names and trademarks, telemarketers, and charitable organizations.
- Commissions notaries public.
- Files oaths of office for judges and supreme court justices and loyalty oaths for gubernatorial appointees.
- Administers the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).
Divisions
As of January 7, 2021, divisions within the Secretary of State's Office included:[2]
- Elections
- Election & Voter Information
- Candidates & Ballot Measures
- Lobbyists
- Campaign Finance
- Business Services
- Trade Names and Trade Marks
- Notary
- Uniform Commercial Code
- Partnerships
- Services
- Address Confidentiality Program
- Advance Directives
- Apostille
- Rules & Administrative Code
- Other
- Communications
- Webmaster
State budget
- See also: Arizona state budget and finances
The budget for the Secretary of State's Office in Fiscal Year 2024 was $29,657,400.[3]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salaries of the secretary of state and other elected executives in Arizona is determined by the Arizona Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers. This five-member committee is sanctioned by Article 5, Section 12 of the Arizona Constitution. Two members are appointed by the governor and one member each is appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House and the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court.
Commission members meet prior to June 1 of each even-numbered year to produce salary recommendations for the governor. The governor may accept, reject or modify recommendations prior to delivery to state legislators. The legislature has 90 days following the governor's transmission of the recommendations to reject or modify salary proposals. If no changes are made, the commission's recommendations take effect following the next election for applicable offices.[4][5]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $70,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2021
In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $70,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2020
In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $70,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2019
In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $70,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2018
In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $70,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2017
In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $70,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $70,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $70,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2014
In 2014, the secretary of state's salary remained at $70,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2013
In 2013, the secretary of state was paid an estimated $70,000. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[15]
2012
In 2012, the secretary of state was paid an estimated $70,000. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
2010
In 2010, the secretary of state was paid an estimated $70,000.[16]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Arizona Secretary of State has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Arizona Secretary State. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Capitol Address:
1700 West Washington Street, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2888
Phone: (602) 542-4285
See also
Arizona | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Arizona Department of State, "About the Office," accessed January 7, 2021
- ↑ Arizona Department of State, "Contact Us," accessed January 7, 2021
- ↑ Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee, "Summary of Appropriated Funds by Agency - Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ East Valley Tribune, "Commission rejects pay hikes for Arizona governor, other state officials," August 5, 2012
- ↑ Arizona Capitol Times, "Commission recommends $11,000 pay increase for state lawmakers," June 25, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010, Table 4.11," accessed May 20, 2011
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