New Jersey Secretary of State

New Jersey State Executives

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The Secretary of State for New Jersey is responsible for overseeing artistic, cultural, and historical programs within the state of New Jersey, as well as volunteerism and community service projects within the state. The New Jersey Department of Archives and Records Management, sometimes referred to simply as the "State Archives", is also under the authority of the secretary of state. The State Archives is the repository for all vital statistics, including marriage and divorce records and birth certificates, and also maintains a separate set of files for the registry of wills. The secretary of state oversees the Division of Tourism and the Division of Elections, and sets all tourism and election policy.

The secretary is the Chief Elections Officer of New Jersey. Prior to April 1st of 2008, the electoral division was under the State Attorney General.

In New Jersey, registry of corporations is not the responsibility of the secretary of state. The New Jersey Department of the Treasury is responsible for the maintenance of corporate records.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is Kim Guadagno (R). She serves a dual role as both the current Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State.

Authority

The state Constitution addresses the office of secretary of state in Article V, the Executive.

Under Article V, Section IV (3):

The Secretary of State and the Attorney General shall be nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate to serve during the term of office of the Governor...

Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications for this office.

Appointments

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits, State legislatures with term limits

The Office of Secretary of State is filled via the governor with the "advice and consent" of the state senate. However, the governor may, without senate approval, appoint the lieutenant governor to serve in the statewide position. The secretary's term in office is the same as that of the governor and he/she cannot be removed except "for cause" by the governor or by way of legislative impeachment. (New Jersey Constitution, Article V § 4)

Compensation

In 2010, the New Jersey Secretary of State was paid an estimated $141,000 according to the Council of State Governments.

Contact information

Capitol Address:

Office of the Secretary
PO Box 300
Trenton, NJ 08625-0300

Phone: (609) 984-1900
Fax: (609) 292-7665
Email: feedback@sos.state.nj.us

See also

• Kim Guadagno, New Jersey Secretary of State
• Governor of New Jersey
• Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey
• Attorney General of New Jersey
• New Jersey Constitution

External links

Suggest a link

• Office of the New Jersey Secretary of State