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New Hampshire Secretary of State
| New Hampshire Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $127,049 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $1,012,574 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | New Hampshire Constitution, Article 67 |
| Selection Method: | Elected by New Hampshire State Legislature |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
New Hampshire Secretary of State
David Scanlan | |
| Other New Hampshire Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Director of Fish & Game • Public Utilities Commission | |
The Secretary of State for New Hampshire is a constitutional officer in the state of New Hampshire and serves as the exclusive head of the New Hampshire Department of State. The secretary of state performs duties of both a legislative branch as well as an executive branch officer. The secretary of state is elected biannually by ballot of all members of the New Hampshire General Court assembled together. The secretary of state is required to prepare and distribute election-related items as provided in the state Election code. The secretary of state has the custody of the State Seal.[1]
New Hampshire has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current New Hampshire Secretary of State is David Scanlan (R). Scanlan assumed office in 2022.
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of secretary of state in Article 67, Secretary, Treasurer, Etc..
Under Article 67:
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The secretary and treasurer shall be chosen by joint ballot of the senators and representatives assembled in one room.[1] |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office.[1]
Appointments
In accordance with Part II, Article 67 of the New Hampshire Constitution, as with other state executive officers, the secretary of state for New Hampshire is elected by a joint session of both houses of the State Legislature. There is no term limit imposed on this statewide position.[1]
Vacancies
Article 69 of the New Hampshire Constitution requires the deputy secretary to replace the secretary until a new secretary is appointed.[1]
Duties
The secretary of state oversees all state elections and must "keep the records of the state, record the proceedings of the Governor and Council, and 'attend the Governor and Council, the Senate and Representatives in person, or by Deputy, as they may require.'"[2]
Divisions
The Secretary of State's office is composed of the following main divisions:[3]
- Administration
- Archives and Records Management
- Corporation and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
- Elections
- Securities Regulation
- Vital Records
State budget
- See also: New Hampshire state budget and finances
The budget for the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $1,012,574.[4]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
See statutes: NH Rev Stat § 94:1-a
The compensation for Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, amongst other public officers, are set under NH Code 94:1a. [5]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $127,049, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $109,558, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the secretary received a salary of $105,930, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the secretary received a salary of $105,930, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the secretary received a salary of $105,930, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the secretary received a salary of $105,930, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the secretary received a salary of $105,930, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $105,930, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $105,930, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the secretary of state was paid an estimated $105,930, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the secretary of state was paid an estimated $104,364, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the New Hampshire Secretary of State has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms New Hampshire Secretary of State. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Capitol Address:
State House, Room 204
Concord, N.H. 03301
Phone: (603) 271-3242
Fax: (603) 271-6316
Email: Elections@sos.state.nh.us
See also
| New Hampshire | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 NH At-a-Glance, "New Hampshire Constitution," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "About," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "About," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ New Hampshire Legislature, "HB 1-A Final Version," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ New Hampshire State Legislature, Title VI Public Officers and Employees,” accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 26, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
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