Secretary of State of California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Secretary of State of California
State flag
Great Seal of the State of California
Incumbent Shirley Weber since January 29, 2021
Government of California
Style	The Honorable Madam Secretary
Term length	Four years, two term limit
Inaugural holder	William Van Voorhies 1849
Formation	Constitution of California
Salary	$163,917

The Secretary of State of California is a very important job in the U.S. state of California. Think of them as the state's main record keeper and chief elections officer. This person leads a large department with about 500 people.

The Secretary of State is chosen by voters for a four-year term. Just like other top state officials, they can only serve two terms in this role. The person holding this job right now is Shirley Weber. She started in 2021 after Alex Padilla became a U.S. Senator.

What Does the Secretary of State Do?

The Secretary of State has many key responsibilities that help California run smoothly.

Overseeing Elections

The main office building for the California Secretary of State in Sacramento.

One of the most important jobs is being California's chief elections officer. This means they are in charge of all federal and state elections held in California. They make sure elections are fair and accurate.

The office also keeps a huge list of everyone registered to vote in the state. They also make sure that information about who gives money to political campaigns and lobbyists (people who try to influence laws) is made public. This is part of a law called the California Political Reform Act of 1974.

Helping Businesses in California

The Secretary of State's office also helps businesses. A big part of their work is done by the Business Programs Division. This division handles all the paperwork for different types of businesses.

They process, file, and keep records for:

• Corporations
• Limited liability companies (LLCs)
• Partnerships
• Other business groups that want to operate in California

Keeping Important Records and Programs

The office also manages several important lists and programs. These include:

• The Safe at Home program: This program helps people who need to keep their home address private for safety reasons.
• The Domestic Partners registry: This is a list for couples who have registered their partnership.
• The Advance Health Care Directive registry: This allows people to record their wishes about future medical care.

Beyond these, the Secretary of State is also responsible for protecting the California State Archives. These archives are like a giant library of California's history, holding important documents and records. The Secretary of State also serves on the board of trustees for the California Museum. However, they haven't been in charge of the California State Library since 1862.

How the Office is Organized

The Secretary of State's Office is divided into six main parts, each with its own specific tasks:

• Executive Division: This is the main leadership part. It also includes teams that focus on election cybersecurity (keeping elections safe from online threats) and checking voting machine technology.
• Elections Division: This team focuses specifically on running elections and helping voters.
• Political Reform Division: This part keeps track of lobbyists and campaign money, making sure everything is transparent.
• Management Services Division: This division handles the office's daily operations, like accounting, human resources (staffing), and managing the buildings.
• Business Programs Division: As mentioned, this team registers companies and provides services like notary public certifications.
• State Archives: This division manages California's historical documents and also runs the State Museum, which is located at the Secretary of State's main office in downtown Sacramento.

The Secretary of State's Office also works closely with the state's Voting Modernization Board. This board helps make sure voting methods are up-to-date and easy to use.

Past Secretaries of State of California

Many people have served as California's Secretary of State since the state was formed. Here is a list of some of the individuals who have held this important position:

#	Image	Name	Term of office	Party
1		William Van Voorhies	1849–1853	Democratic
2		James W. Denver	1853–1855	Democratic
3		Charles H. Hempstead	1855–1856	Democratic
4		David F. Douglass	1856–1858	American
5		Ferris Foreman	1858–1860	Democratic
6		Johnson Price	1860–1862	Democratic
7		William H. Weeks	1862–1863	Republican
8		A. A. H. Tuttle	1863	Republican
9		Benjamin B. Redding	1863–1867	Unionist Republican
10		Henry L. Nichols	1867–1871	Democratic
11		Drury Melone	1871–1875	Republican
12		Thomas Beck	1875–1880	Democratic
13		Daniel M. Burns	1880–1883	Republican
14		Thomas Larkin Thompson	1883–1887	Democratic
15		William C. Hendricks	1887–1891	Democratic
16		Edwin G. Waite	1891–1894	Republican
17		Albert Hart	1894–1895	Republican
18		Lewis H. Brown	1895–1899	Republican
19		Charles F. Curry	1899–1911	Republican
20		Frank C. Jordan	1911–1940	Republican
21		Paul Peek	1940–1943	Democratic
22		Frank M. Jordan	1943–1970	Republican
Acting		H. P. Sullivan	1970–1971	Republican
23		Jerry Brown	1971–1975	Democratic
24		March Fong Eu	1975–1994	Democratic
Acting		Tony Miller	1994–1995	Democratic
25		Bill Jones	1995–2003	Republican
26		Kevin Shelley	2003–2005	Democratic
27		Cathy Mitchell	2005	Democratic
28		Bruce McPherson	2005–2007	Republican
29		Debra Bowen	2007–2015	Democratic
30		Alex Padilla	2015–2021	Democratic
Acting		James Schwab	2021	Democratic
31		Shirley Weber	2021–present	Democratic

Learn More About California Government

• Government of California
• Politics of California
• Impeachment in California