Secretary of State of Maine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Secretary of State of Maine
Great Seal of Maine
Incumbent Shenna Bellows since January 4, 2021
Style	The Honorable Madam Secretary
Term length	2 years
Inaugural holder	Ashur Ware
Formation	March 15, 1820
Salary	$77,792

The Secretary of State of Maine is an important official in the state government. This person leads the Maine Department of State. Their job is set up by the state's main rules, called the constitution.

The Secretary of State handles many different tasks. These include things like giving out driver's licenses and state IDs. They also keep official records for the state. Another big part of the job is helping businesses get started in Maine.

Lawmakers in the Maine Legislature choose the Secretary of State. They vote for this person every two years. This election happens at the start of the Legislature's first meeting. The Secretary of State serves for a two-year term.

The person currently holding this job is Shenna Bellows. She started her term on January 4, 2021.

What Does the Secretary of State Do?

The Secretary of State manages three main areas. Each area has its own special office or "bureau." These are the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, the State Archives, and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Running Elections and Helping Businesses

The Secretary of State makes sure that elections run smoothly. This includes handling petitions and statewide votes on new laws. They also check signatures on petitions to make sure they are real.

This office also makes sure that candidates follow election rules. They apply the laws about how campaigns should be run.

Another big part of this job is dealing with business laws. Companies that want to start in Maine must work with this office. The Secretary also oversees other business rules in the state. They also choose and oversee people called notaries public. Notaries are people who witness important signatures on documents.

Keeping Maine's History and Records Safe

The Secretary of State is like Maine's main record keeper. They keep track of all the laws passed in the state. They also store records from the state legislature.

This office also holds records from state agencies. Election results, birth and death records, and court rulings are also kept here. This includes decisions from the highest court in Maine.

Managing Driver's Licenses and Vehicle Records

The Secretary of State oversees the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This bureau handles many things for drivers. They are in charge of giving out state identification cards.

They also manage vehicle registrations. This means making sure cars are properly listed with the state. The bureau also oversees vehicle inspections and other types of licenses.

List of Maine's Secretaries of State

Here are the people who have served as Secretary of State for Maine:

Years Served	Picture	Secretary of State	Hometown	Political Party	Notes
1820–1821		Ashur Ware	Portland	Democratic-Republican
1822–1828		Amos Nichols	Augusta	Democratic-Republican
1829–1830		Edward Russell	North Yarmouth	National Republican
1831–1834		Roscoe Greene	Portland	Democratic
1835–1837		Asaph Nichols	Augusta	Democratic
1838		Samuel P. Benson	Winthrop	Whig
1839		Asaph Nichols	Augusta	Democratic
1840		Philip C. Johnson	Augusta	Democratic
1841		Samuel P. Benson	Winthrop	Democratic
1842–1844		Philip C. Johnson	Augusta	Democratic
1845		William B. Hartwell	Augusta	Democratic
1846–1849		Ezra B. French	Damariscotta	Democratic
1850–1853		John G. Sawyer	Augusta	Democratic
1854–1855		Alden Jackson	Augusta	Whig
1856		Caleb Ayer	Cornish	Democratic
1857		Alden Jackson	Augusta	Democratic
1858–1860		Noah Smith, Jr.	Calais	Republican
1861–1863		Joseph B. Hall	Presque Isle	Republican
1864–1867		Ephraim Flint, Jr.	Dover	Republican
1868–1871		Franklin M. Drew	Brunswick	Republican
1872–1874		George B. Stacy	Richmond	Republican	Resigned
1875		Sidney Perham	Paris, Maine	Republican	Previously served as governor.
1876–1878		S.J. Chadbourne	Dixmont	Democratic
1879		Edward H. Gove	Biddeford	Greenback
1880		S.J. Chadbourne	Augusta	Republican
1881–1884		Joseph O. Smith	Augusta	Republican
1885–1890		Ormandel Smith	Litchfield	Republican
1891–1896		Nicholas Fessenden	Fort Fairfield	Republican
1897–1906		Byron Boyd	Augusta	Republican
1907–1910		Arthur I. Brown	Belfast	Republican
1911–1912		Cyrus W. Davis	Waterville	Democrat
1913–1914		Joseph E. Alexander	Richmond	Republican
1915–1916		John E. Bunker	Eden	Democrat
1917–1926		Frank W. Ball	Dover	Republican
1927–1932		Edgar C. Smith	Augusta	Republican
1933–1934		Robinson C. Tobey	Augusta	Republican
1935–1936		Lewis O. Barrows	Newport	Republican
1937–1941		Frederick Robie	Gorham	Republican
1942–1960		Harold I. Goss	Gardiner	Republican	Longest-serving Maine Secretary of State
1961–1964		Paul A. MacDonald	Coopers Mills	Republican
1965–1966		Kenneth M. Curtis	Cape Elizabeth	Democratic
1967–1974		Joseph T. Edgar	Farmingdale	Republican
1975–1978		Markham L. Gartley	Greenville	Democratic	Ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Olympia Snowe in 1978.
1979–1988		Rodney S. Quinn	Augusta	Democratic
1989–1996		William Diamond	Windham	Democratic
1997–2004		Dan Gwadosky	Fairfield	Democratic
2005–2010		Matthew Dunlap	Old Town	Democratic
2011–2012		Charlie Summers	Scarborough	Republican
2013–2021		Matthew Dunlap	Old Town	Democratic
2021–present		Shenna Bellows	Manchester	Democratic	Incumbent, First woman to serve as Secretary of State

Images for kids

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  Ashur Ware

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  Samuel P. Benson

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  Sidney Perham

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  Edward H. Gove

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  Ormandel Smith

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  Nicholas Fessenden

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  Byron Boyd

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  Cyrus W. Davis

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  Lewis O. Barrows

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  Paul A. MacDonald

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  Kenneth M. Curtis

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  Joseph T. Edgar

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  William Diamond

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  Matthew Dunlap

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  Charlie Summers

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  Shenna Bellows