The secretary of state of Rhode Island is an elected office in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of 2023, the current secretary of state is Gregg Amore.
Powers and duties The Rhode Island Department of State or is composed of five separate divisions: The Elections and Civics Division prepares ballots, ensures accessibility of voting facilities, qualifies and certifies the names of all federal and state candidates for ballot placement, maintains a database of registered voters, and ensures compliance with the Help America Vote Act. Administration of elections and compliance with campaign finance laws is the responsibility of a separate state agency, the Rhode Island Board of Elections. The Corporations Division is responsible for a wide range of business-related legal documents and filings, including formation of corporations and other business entities, liens and security interests under the Uniform Commercial Code, registration of notaries public, apostilles, trademarks and service marks, registration of businesses conducting games of chance, and various other documents required by state law. The Public Information Division accepts many filings required to be made with the secretary of state, including lobbying disclosures, public meeting notices and minutes, disclosure of state government consultants, and appointments to boards and commissions, and other government information. This division also publishes the Rhode Island Government Owner's Manual, which gives a broad overview of various government offices and officials. The Rhode Island State Archives is the official custodian and trustee for public records of permanent historical value. The Rhode Island State Library, which was created in 1852 by a General Assembly resolution as part of the office of the secretary of state. Its purpose is to assist members of the General Assembly with research on the preparation of proposed legislation. The State Library also includes a law library.RI State Library,Law and Legislation Section
List of secretaries of state +List of officeholdersOffice of Rhode Island Secretary of State, Historical Secretaries of State, accessed September 12, 2013 Image Name Tenure PartyHenry Ward 1775–1797 Samuel Eddy 1798–1818 Republican Henry Bowen 1819–1848 WhigChristopher E. Robbins 1849–1850 Whig Asa Potter 1851–1853 Democratic William R. Watson 1854 Whig John Russell Bartlett 1855–1871 Republican Joshua M. Addeman 1872–1886 Republican Edwin D. McGuinness 1887 Democratic Samuel H. Cross1888–1889 Edwin D. McGuinness 1890 Democratic George H. Utter 1891–1893 Republican Charles P. Bennett 1894–1909 Republican J. Fred Parker 1910–1923 Republican Ernest L. Sprague 1924–1932 Republican Louis W. Cappelli 1933–1938 Democratic J. Hector Paquin 1939–1940 Republican Armand H. Cote 1941–1956 Democratic John A. Notte, Jr. 1957–1958 Democratic August P. LaFrance 1959–1972 Democratic Robert F. Burns 1973–1982 Democratic Susan Farmer 1983–1986 Republican Kathleen S. Connell 1987–1992 Democratic Barbara Leonard 1993–1994 Republican James Langevin 1995–2001 Democratic Edward S. Inman 2001–2002 Independent Matthew A. Brown 2003–2006 Democratic Ralph Mollis 2007–2014 Democratic Nellie Gorbea 2015–2023 Democratic Gregg Amore 2023–present Democratic
See also Attorney General of Rhode Island
References
External links Secretary of State Incorporations (Non Business) finding aid from the Rhode Island State Archives Letter from P.T. Barnum to the R.I. Secretary of State from the Rhode Island State Archives