Maine Secretary of State
| Maine Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $91,998 |
| 2023 FY Budget: | $61,196,241 |
| Term limits: | Four consecutive terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Two years |
| Authority: | Maine Constitution, Article V, Part 2, The Executive Department |
| Selection Method: | Elected by the Maine State Legislature |
| Current Officeholder | |
Maine Secretary of State
Shenna Bellows | |
| Other Maine Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner • Superintendent of Insurance • Labor Commissioner • Public Utilities Commission | |
The Secretary of State for Maine is the state's chief elections officer. The secretary of state is also responsible for the Maine State Archives, as well as for chartering corporations. The secretary of state serves two-year terms, concurrent with the other constitutional officers of Maine, and may not serve more than four consecutive terms.
Maine has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Shenna Bellows (D). Bellows was elected to the position by the Maine State Legislature on December 2, 2020, and assumed office on January 4, 2021.[1]
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of the secretary of state in Article V, Part 2, the Executive Department.
Under Article V, Part II, Section I:
|
The Secretary of State shall be chosen biennially at the first session of the Legislature, by joint ballot of the Senators and Representatives in convention.[2] |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office.[2]
Appointments
The secretary of state is elected biennially by the Maine State Legislature.[3]
Term limits
Term limits for the secretary of state are laid out in Section 553 of Title 21-A of the Maine Revised Statutes, which prohibits a secretary of state from serving more than four consecutive terms.[4]
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, Section 553-3:
| A person may not serve more than 4 consecutive terms as Secretary of State. |
Vacancies
Vacancies are addressed in the Maine Constitution.
Under Article V, Part II, Section 1-A:
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If a vacancy occurs the first deputy secretary of state fills the role until a new secretary is elected by the legislature.[2] |
Duties
Duties of the secretary of state include:[5]
- Keeping the records of the state
- Conducting state elections
- Keep and preserve the records of all official acts and proceedings of the governor, state Senate and House of Representatives
The elections division
The Maine Secretary of State is responsible for the state's elections division. As such, the secretary of state's website contains comprehensive information about the state's initiatives, along with election results, a history of all initiatives ever to appear on the ballot in Maine, and other important information. See external links below for further information.[5]
Role in the initiative process
Filing the initiative
The voter must submit a written application to the secretary of state that contains the names, addresses, and signatures of five Maine registered voters. One of these voters must volunteer to be responsible for receiving all the correspondence regarding the initiative. This application must be signed in the presence of the secretary of state or a notary public and the full text of the initiative must be submitted with application.
Within 10 business days the secretary of state must review the application, reject, accept or provide a revised draft of the initiative legislation according to its legality and if it meets format guidelines. Upon reviewing this, the applicant must sign their approval of the final language.
After receiving written consent from the applicant, the secretary of state must provide the ballot question to the applicant within 10 business days. Then the elections division will provide an approved petition form to be circulated by the petitioners.[5]
Verification and certification
The secretary of state shall review all petitions filed in the Department of the Secretary of State for a people's veto referendum under the Constitution of Maine.
The secretary of state shall determine the validity of the petition and issue a written decision stating the reasons for the decision within 30 days after the final date for filing.[5]
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Maine Secretary of State has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
- See also: Maine state budget and finances
The budget for the Maine Department of the Secretary of State for FY 2023 was $61,196,241.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The secretary of state’s salary is determined by the Maine Legislative Council, an administrative body comprised of 10 elected members of legislative leadership. The council establishes salaries for all legislative employees, unless otherwise determine by law. The Legislative Council may decide to adjust the salary of the secretary of state and attorney general for each year of continuous service.[7][8]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $91,998, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2021
In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $81,910, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2020
In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $104,104 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2019
In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $104,104 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2018
In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $97,157 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2017
In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $90,730 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $83,032, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $77,792, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2014
In 2014, the secretary was paid an estimated $69,264, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2013
In 2013, the secretary was paid an estimated $69,264, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Noteworthy events
Proposed elimination of office (2015)
In January 2015, Governor Paul LePage (R) and his advisers proposed legislation to eliminate the secretary's office in favor of a lieutenant governor. Under the proposal, the lieutenant governor would assume all of the duties of the secretary of state. The legislation also included provisions for the gubernatorial appointment of the attorney general and state treasurer instead of appointment by the Maine State Legislature. These changes would have required approval by two-thirds of legislators and gain approval from the public during a statewide vote.[19]
In an interview with the Bangor Daily News, then-Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap recounted an exchange during LePage's 2015 swearing-in that confirmed the proposed constitutional changes. The proposal would have paired the governor and lieutenant governor as a joint ticket during elections.[19] Proposals to amend the Maine Constitution to change the selection process for the secretary of state previously occurred 21 times: 13 efforts would have made the office an elected position, while eight other efforts would have made the office appointed by the governor.[20]
State Rep. Christopher Babbidge (D) said that the proposals represented a "consolidation of power in the hands of the chief executive."[21] On June 15, 2015, the Maine House of Representatives voted the proposal down by accepting an "Ought Not To Pass" report. The next day, the Maine State Senate defeated an "Ought to Pass" report by a 12-23 vote.[22] The proposal was opposed by every Senate Democrat and eight Senate Republicans.[23] LePage's proposals to allow the governor to appoint the state attorney general and state treasurer also failed.[24][25]
Historical officeholders
There have been 50 Secretaries of State of Maine since 1820. Of the 44 officeholders, there have been 21 Republicans, 15 Democrats, two Democratic-Republicans, one National Republican, and one Greenback. Three secretaries served non-consecutive terms as members of different parties: two (Samuel P. Benson and Alden Jackson) were first elected as Whigs and elected later as Democrats. One (S.J. Chadbourne) was first elected as a Democrat and later elected as a Republican.[26]
| List of officeholders from 1820-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | Ashur Ware | 1820-1821 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 2 | Amos Nichols | 1822-1828 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 3 | Edward Russell | 1829-1830 | National Republican | ||
| 4 | Roscoe Greene | 1831-1834 |  Democratic
| ||
| 5 | Asaph Nichols | 1835-1837 | Democratic
| ||
| 6 | Samuel P. Benson | 1838 | Whig | ||
| 7 | Asaph Nichols | 1839 | Democratic
| ||
| 8 | Phillip C. Johnson | 1840 | Democratic
| ||
| 9 | Samuel P. Benson | 1841 | Democratic
| ||
| 10 | Phillip C. Johnson | 1842-1844 | Democratic
| ||
| 11 | William B. Hartwell | 1845 | Democratic
| ||
| 12 | Ezra B. French | 1846-1849 | Democratic
| ||
| 13 | John G. Sawyer | 1850-1853 | Democratic
| ||
| 14 | Alden Jackson | 1854-1855 | Whig | ||
| 15 | Caleb Ayer | 1856 | Democratic
| ||
| 16 | Alden Jackson | 1857 | Democratic
| ||
| 17 | Noah Smith, Jr. | 1858-1860 |  Republican
| ||
| 18 | Joseph B. Hall | 1861-1863 | Republican
| ||
| 19 | Ephraim Flint, Jr. | 1864-1867 | Republican
| ||
| 20 | Franklin M. Drew | 1868-1871 | Republican
| ||
| 21 | George B. Stacy | 1872-1874 | Republican
| ||
| 22 | Sidney Perham | 1875 | Republican
| ||
| 23 | S.J. Chadbourne | 1876-1878 | Republican
| ||
| 24 | Edward H. Gove | 1879 | Greenback | ||
| 25 | S.J. Chadbourne | 1880 | Democratic
| ||
| 26 | Joseph O. Smith | 1881-1884 | Republican
| ||
| 27 | Ormandel Smith | 1885-1890 | Republican
| ||
| 28 | Nicholas Fessenden | 1891-1896 | Republican
| ||
| 29 | Byron Boyd | 1897-1906 | Republican
| ||
| 30 | Arthur I. Brown | 1907-1910 | Republican
| ||
| 31 | Cyrus W. Davis | 1911-1912 | Democratic
| ||
| 32 | Joseph E. Alexander | 1913-1914 | Republican
| ||
| 33 | John E. Bunker | 1915-1916 | Democratic
| ||
| 34 | Frank W. Ball | 1917-1926 | Republican
| ||
| 35 | Edgar C. Smith | 1927-1932 | Republican
| ||
| 36 | Robinson C. Tobey | 1933-1934 | Republican
| ||
| 37 | Lewis O. Barrows | 1935-1936 | Republican
| ||
| 38 | Frederick Robie | 1937-1941 | Republican
| ||
| 39 | Harold I. Goss | 1942-1960 | Republican
| ||
| 40 | Paul McDonald | 1961-1964 | Republican
| ||
| 41 | Kennth M. Curtis | 1965-1966 | Democratic
| ||
| 42 | Joseph T. Edgar | 1967-1974 | Republican
| ||
| 43 | Markham L. Gartley | 1975-1978 | Democratic
| ||
| 44 | Rodney S. Quinn | 1979-1988 | Democratic
| ||
| 45 | William Diamond | 1989-1996 | Democratic
| ||
| 46 | Dan Gwadosky | 1997-2004 | Democratic
| ||
| 47 | Matthew Dunlap | 2005-2010 | Democratic
| ||
| 48 | Charles Summers Jr. | 2011-2012 | Republican
| ||
| 49 | Matthew Dunlap | 2013-2021 | Democratic
| ||
| 50 | Shenna Bellows | 2021-Present | Democratic
| ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Maine Secretary of State. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Capitol Address:
148 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0148
Phone: (207) 626-8400
Fax: (207) 287-8598
See also
| Maine | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Maine Department of the Secretary of State, "Biographical Information," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Maine State Legislature, "Maine State Constitution," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "About the Department of the Secretary of State," accessed October 19, 2022
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "Title 21-A: Elections, Chapter 8: Limitation of Terms," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Maine Secretary of State, "About the Department of the Secretary of State," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "2022-2023," accessed October 14, 2022
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "Legislative Council," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ Maine Legislature, ‘’Salaries of constitutional officers,’’ (Referenced Statute 3- §162-B, Maine Revised Statutes) accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ 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, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 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 November 25, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, Table 4.11 Selected state administrative officials: Annual Salaries
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Bangor Daily News, "LePage to propose adding lieutenant governor, dropping secretary of state," January 22, 2015
- ↑ legislature.maine.gov, "Proposed Constitutional Legislation, 1820-," accessed September 6, 2015
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "LePage plan to seize authority over attorney general gets lukewarm reception," accessed September 6, 2015
- ↑ State of Maine Legislature, "Summary of LD 1418," accessed September 6, 2015
- ↑ State of Maine Legislature, "Rollcall Details for S Roll-call #252, LD 1418 (HP 965)," accessed September 6, 2015
- ↑ State of Maine Legislature, "Summary of LD 1417," accessed September 6, 2015
- ↑ State of Maine Legislature, "Summary of LD 1419," accessed September 6, 2015
- ↑ Maine State Legislature website, "Maine Secretaries of State, 1820-," accessed Jan. 6, 2021
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