Texas Secretary of State
| Texas Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $197,415 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $38,793,041 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves concurrent with appointing governor |
| Authority: | Texas Constitution, Article 4, Section 21 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
Texas Secretary of State
Jane Nelson | |
| Other Texas Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Comptroller • Auditor • Education Commissioner • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Land Commissioner • Workforce Commission • Public Utility Commission • Railroad Commission | |
The Texas Secretary of State is an appointed position in the U.S. state of Texas. The secretary of state is appointed by the governor, with confirmation by the state Senate. The secretary serves as the chief election officer for Texas, assisting election officials at the county level, and ensuring that election laws are uniformly throughout Texas. Additionally, the secretary publishes government rules and regulations and commissions notaries public.[1]
Texas has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Texas Secretary of State is Jane Nelson (R). Nelson assumed office in 2023.
Authority
Article 4, Section 21 of the Texas Constitution establishes an office of Secretary of State:
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There shall be a Secretary of State, who shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall continue in office during the term of service of the Governor.[2] |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office.[2]
Appointments
Under Article IV, Section 21 of the Texas Constitution, the Texas Secretary of State is an appointed statewide position chosen by the governor with the advice and consent of the Texas State Senate. The officer selected for this position serves for the same length of time as that of the governor. There are no term limits for this office.[2]
Vacancies
The Texas Secretary of State is appointed by the Governor of Texas. In the event of a vacancy, the governor appoints the replacement with the advice of the state Senate.[2]
Duties
Article 4, Section 21 of the Texas Constitution defines certain duties of the secretary of state:
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He shall authenticate the publication of the laws, and keep a fair register of all official acts and proceedings of the Governor, and shall, when required, lay the same and all papers, minutes and vouchers relative thereto, before the Legislature, or either House thereof, and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by law.[2] |
Further, Article 4, Section 19 of the Texas Constitution names the secretary of state as the keeper of the State Seal:
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There shall be a Seal of the State which shall be kept by the Secretary of State, and used by him officially under the direction of the Governor.[2] |
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 Texas 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: Texas state budget and finances
The budget for the Secretary of State's office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $38,793,041.[3]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
See statutes: Texas Statutes Title 6, Chapter 659
The secretary of state, along with the rest of Texas' executive officers, is entitled by Article 4, Section 21 of the Texas Constitution to receive an annual salary, pursuant to Title 6, Section 659.011 of the Texas Statutes. The legislature was empowered to set the salaries of executive branch officers by a 1954 constitutional amendment. Prior to that, the constitution stipulated the salary amounts paid to each officer.[4] The amounts are fixed by the biennial General Approprations Act.
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $197,415, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2021
In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $197,415, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2020
In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $197,415 according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2019
In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $197,415 according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2018
In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $132,924 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2017
In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $132,924 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $132,924 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $125,880 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2014
In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $125,880 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2013
In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $125,880 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2010
In 2010, the secretary received a salary of $125,880.[15]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Texas 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:
Texas Secretary of State
P.O. Box 12887
Austin, Texas 78711-2887
See also
| Texas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of the Texas Secretary of State, "About the Office," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Texas State Legislature, "Texas Constitution," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Texas Legislature, "H.B. No. 1 General Appropriations Act," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Texas State Historical Association, "SALARIES OF STATE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS," accessed March 6, 2015
- ↑ 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 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 25, 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 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑ Sunshine Review, "Texas state government salary," accessed May 18, 2011
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