Maryland Secretary of State
| Maryland Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $105,500 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $7,097,365 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Maryland Constitution, Article 5, Section 22 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
Maryland Secretary of State
Susan Lee | |
| Other Maryland Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Comptroller • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Secretary of Labor • Public Service Commission | |
The Secretary of State for Maryland is charged with "handling certain executive functions including Executive Orders, extraditions and requisitions, pardons and commutations, public disclosures with persons doing business with the State, [and] certifying candidates for nomination by a principal political party on the presidential primary ballot."[1] The secretary of state also holds custody of the Seal of Maryland. Unlike in many states, the secretary of state is not an elective office, but is appointed by the governor.[1]
Maryland has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Maryland Secretary of State is Susan Lee (D). Lee assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The office of the secretary of state is established by Article 5, Section 22 of the Maryland Constitution.[2]
Article 5, Section 22:
| A Secretary of State shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall continue in office, unless sooner removed by the Governor, till the end of the official term of the Governor from whom he received his appointment, and receive such annual salary as the General Assembly may from time to time by law prescribe. |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office.[2]
Appointments
In accordance with the Maryland Constitution, the secretary of state is appointed by the governor with the "advice and consent of the state Senate."[2]
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Maryland 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.
Duties
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that outlines the key responsibilities of a state executive office; information for the Maryland 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.
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 Maryland 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: Maryland state budget and finances
The Office of the Secretary of State's budget for fiscal year 2024 was $7,097,365.[3]
Compensation
The salaries of the secretary of state and attorney general of Maryland are decided upon by the Governor’s Salary Commission, a seven-member commission created by a 1976 amendment in Section 21A of the Maryland Constitution. The commission includes three members appointed by the president of the senate and three members appointed by the speaker of the house of delegates. Appointees serve a four-year term.
Although the Maryland Constitution states that the commission is only responsible for making recommendations for the governor and lieutenant governor, the current, and previous governors of Maryland have requested the commission recommend compensation amounts for the constitutional offices of secretary of state and attorney general. The salary for the secretary of state is typically below those of other constitutional offices.[4]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $105,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2021
In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $105,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2020
In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $99,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2019
In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $99,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2018
In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $99,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2017
In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $99,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $99,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $99,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $87,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2014
In 2014, the secretary earned a salary of $87,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2013
In 2013, the secretary earned a salary of $87,500, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2010
In 2010, the secretary earned a salary of $87,500, 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 Maryland 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
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Contact information
Capitol Address:
John P. McDonough, Secretary of State
Jeffrey Building
16 Francis Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: (410) 974-5521
Fax: (410) 974-5190[17]
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Maryland Secretary of State, "About Us," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Maryland Manual On-Line, "Constitution of Maryland," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "House Bil 200," accessed December 8, 2023
- ↑ Report of the Governor’s Salary Commission, "Governor’s Salary Commission," January, 2014
- ↑ 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 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Maryland Secretary of State, "Contact Us" accessed January 21, 2021
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