Rhode Island Secretary of State

	Rhode Island Secretary of State
	; ; ;
	General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$122,740
2024 FY Budget:	$14,424,078
Term limits:	Two consecutive terms
	Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Rhode Island general laws, Section 42-8-1
Selection Method:	Elected
	Current Officeholder
	Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore; Democratic Party; Assumed office: January 3, 2023
	Elections
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Last election:	November 8, 2022
	Other Rhode Island Executive Offices
	Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Secretary of State for Rhode Island is an elected official for the state of Rhode Island. The secretary of state is the keeper of the Seal of the State of Rhode Island, and the office is the repository for official state documents.^[1]

Rhode Island has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

Current officeholder

The current Rhode Island Secretary of State is Gregg Amore (D). Amore assumed office in 2023.

Authority

The department of state, with the secretary of state as its head, is established in the Rhode Island Constitution and Section 42-8-1 of the Rhode Island general laws.

§ 42-8-1:

There shall be a department of state. The head of the department of state shall be the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall perform the duties required by this chapter and by chapter 2 of title 6; chapters 1 to 4, inclusive, of title 7; chapters 16, 19, and 20 of title 17; chapters 3 and 10 of title 22; chapters 1 to 3 and 4, of title 29; chapter 1 of title 36; chapter 7 of title 37; chapter 30 of this title; chapters 1 and 2 of title 43; chapter 6 of title 44; and any and all other provisions of the general laws and public laws insofar as such powers and duties relate to the secretary of state and the department of state.^[2]

Qualifications

According to the Rhode Island Secretary of State's website, "In order to serve as Secretary of State, you must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter, a resident of Rhode Island for at least 30 days and a U.S. citizen."^[1]

Vacancies

Article IV, Section 4 of the state constitution addresses vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office of secretary of state, attorney general, or treasurer, the Rhode Island General Assembly elects a successor to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. If the vacancy occurs when the general assembly is not in session, the governor appoints a person to fill the vacancy to serve until a successor is elected by the general assembly.^[3]

Elections

Article IV, Section 1 of the state constitution specifies that the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer are to be elected every four years during the November general election. The offices are elected in mid-term election years (2018, 2022, 2026, et cetera).^[3]

Term limits

Term limits for the secretary of state are defined in Article IV, Section 1 of the Rhode Island Constitution, which prohibits a secretary of state from serving more than two consecutive terms.

Rhode Island Constitution, Article IV, Section 1 (partial):

The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney-general, general treasurer shall be elected on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, quadrennially commencing A.D. 1994, and every four (4) years thereafter, and shall severally hold their offices, subject to recall as provided herein, for four (4) years from the first Tuesday of January next succeeding their election and until their successors are elected and qualified. No person shall serve consecutively in the same general office for more than two (2) full terms, excluding any partial term of less than two (2) years previously served...

2022

See also: Rhode Island Secretary of State election, 2022

General election

General election for Rhode Island Secretary of State

Gregg Amore defeated Pat Cortellessa in the general election for Rhode Island Secretary of State on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Gregg Amore (D)	59.5	208,981
	Pat Cortellessa (R)	40.3	141,457
	Other/Write-in votes	0.2	527

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 350,965
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Anne Armstrong (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State

Gregg Amore defeated Stephanie Beauté in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State on September 13, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Gregg Amore	64.3	65,276
	Stephanie Beauté	35.7	36,283

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 101,559
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Anthony Tamba (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State

Pat Cortellessa advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State on September 13, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pat Cortellessa	100.0	18,306

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,306
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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