Vermont Secretary of State

Vermont Secretary of State
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$127,546
2025 FY Budget:	$27,938,898
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	2 years
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder(s)
Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas Democratic Party Assumed office: January 5, 2023
Elections
Next election:	2026
Last election:	2024
Other Vermont Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Board

The Secretary of State for Vermont is a cabinet-level constitutional officer in the state of Vermont. The secretary is responsible for the filing and publication of administrative rules by all state agencies.

Vermont has a divided government where neither party holds a triplex. The Republican Party controls the office of governor, while the Democratic Party controls the offices of attorney general and secretary of state.

Current officeholder

The current Vermont Secretary of State is Sarah Copeland Hanzas (D). Copeland Hanzas assumed office in 2023.

Authority

The Vermont Secretary of State's office is established in the Vermont Constitution. Chapter 2, Section 43 describes the officers to be elected biennially.

Chapter 2, Section 43:

Biennial Elections The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, Auditor of Accounts, Senators, Town Representatives, Assistant Judges of the County Court, Sheriffs, High Bailiffs, State's Attorneys, Judges of Probate and Justices of the Peace, shall be elected biennially on the first Tuesday next after the first Monday of November, beginning in A.D. 1914.

Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications for this office.

Elections

The secretary of state is elected every two years, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.

In Vermont, state executives are elected in even numbered years (e.g. 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026).

2024

See also: Vermont Secretary of State election, 2024

General election

General election for Vermont Secretary of State

Incumbent Sarah Copeland Hanzas defeated H. Brooke Paige in the general election for Vermont Secretary of State on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Copeland Hanzas (D)	59.6	205,378
		H. Brooke Paige (R)	40.3	138,673
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	473

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 344,524
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont Secretary of State

Incumbent Sarah Copeland Hanzas advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Copeland Hanzas	99.3	43,182
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7	294

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 43,476
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont Secretary of State

H. Brooke Paige advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		H. Brooke Paige	98.1	18,989
		Other/Write-in votes	1.9	368

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 19,357
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: Vermont Secretary of State election, 2022

General election

General election for Vermont Secretary of State

Sarah Copeland Hanzas defeated H. Brooke Paige in the general election for Vermont Secretary of State on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Copeland Hanzas (D)	65.0	179,087
		H. Brooke Paige (R)	34.7	95,666
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	626

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 275,379
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Robert Millar (Vermont Progressive Party)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont Secretary of State

Sarah Copeland Hanzas defeated Chris Winters and John Odum in the Democratic primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Copeland Hanzas	42.9	35,968
		Chris Winters	40.7	34,137
	Submit photo	John Odum	16.4	13,705

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 83,810
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Wyatt Pohlen (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont Secretary of State

H. Brooke Paige advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		H. Brooke Paige	96.6	21,591
		Other/Write-in votes	3.4	752

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 22,343
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Vermont Progressive Party primary election

Vermont Progressive Party primary for Vermont Secretary of State

Robert Millar advanced from the Vermont Progressive Party primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Robert Millar	91.6	480
		Other/Write-in votes	8.4	44

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 524
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Vermont Secretary of State election, 2020

General election

General election for Vermont Secretary of State

Incumbent Jim Condos defeated H. Brooke Paige, Pamala Smith, and Cris Ericson in the general election for Vermont Secretary of State on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jim Condos (D)	61.9	214,666
		H. Brooke Paige (R)	28.7	99,564
		Pamala Smith (Independent)	6.1	21,210
		Cris Ericson (Vermont Progressive Party)	3.2	11,171
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	309

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 346,920
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont Secretary of State

Incumbent Jim Condos advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jim Condos	99.6	96,885
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	358

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 97,243
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont Secretary of State

H. Brooke Paige advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		H. Brooke Paige	96.7	40,765
		Other/Write-in votes	3.3	1,370

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,135
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Vermont Progressive Party primary election

Vermont Progressive Party primary for Vermont Secretary of State

Cris Ericson advanced from the Vermont Progressive Party primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cris Ericson	57.3	406
		Other/Write-in votes	42.7	303

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 709
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Vermont Secretary of State election, 2018

General election

General election for Vermont Secretary of State

Incumbent Jim Condos defeated H. Brooke Paige and Mary Alice Hebert in the general election for Vermont Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jim Condos (D)	66.8	178,863
		H. Brooke Paige (R)	29.5	79,035
	Submit photo	Mary Alice Hebert (Liberty Union Party)	3.6	9,706
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	108

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 267,712
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont Secretary of State

Incumbent Jim Condos advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jim Condos	100.0	59,040

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 59,040
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont Secretary of State

H. Brooke Paige advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont Secretary of State on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		H. Brooke Paige	100.0	18,293

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,293
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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2016

See also: Vermont Secretary of State election, 2016

The general election for secretary of state was held on November 8, 2016.

Incumbent Jim Condos defeated Mary Alice Herbert in the Vermont secretary of state election.

Vermont Secretary of State, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jim Condos Incumbent	89.57%	255,201
	Liberty Union Party	Mary Alice Herbert	10.43%	29,711
Total Votes				284,912
Source: Vermont Secretary of State

Full history

2014

See also: Vermont secretary of state election, 2014

Democratic incumbent Jim Condos won re-election on November 4, 2014.

Secretary of State of Vermont, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Jim Condos Incumbent	74.7%	126,427
	Progressive	Ben Eastwood	14.5%	24,518
	Liberty Union	Mary Alice Herbert	10.3%	17,460
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.4%	730
Total Votes				169,135
Election results via Vermont Secretary of State

To view the electoral history dating back to 2000 for the office of Secretary of State of Vermont, click [show] to expand the section.

2012 See also: Vermont secretary of state election, 2012 Vermont Secretary of State General Election, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Jim Condos Incumbent 86.6% 225,801      Liberty Union Mary Alice Herbert 13.1% 34,105      Independent Write-in 0.3% 876 Total Votes 260,782 Election results via Vermont Secretary of State 2010 On November 2, 2010, Jim Condos won election to the office of Secretary of State of Vermont. He defeated Jason Gibbs (R) and Leslie Marmorale (Liberty Union) in the general election. Secretary of State of Vermont, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Jim Condos 53.5% 122,599      Republican Jason Gibbs 44.1% 101,144      Liberty Union Leslie Marmorale 2.3% 5,315      Write-In Various 0.1% 222 Total Votes 229,280 Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. 2008 On November 4, 2008, Deb Markowitz won re-election to the office of Secretary of State of Vermont. She defeated Eugene J. Bifano (R), Marjorie Power (Progressive) and Leslie Marmorale (Liberty Union) in the general election. Secretary of State of Vermont, 2008 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Deb Markowitz Incumbent 70.9% 214,197      Republican Eugene J. Bifano 23.2% 70,114      Progressive Marjorie Power 4.6% 13,856      Liberty Union Leslie Marmorale 1.3% 3,871      Write-In Various 0.1% 185 Total Votes 302,223 Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. 2006 On November 7, 2006, Deb Markowitz won re-election to the office of Secretary of State of Vermont. She defeated Cheryl Moomey (R) and Boots Wardinski (Liberty Union) in the general election. Secretary of State of Vermont, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Deb Markowitz Incumbent 72.7% 184,914      Republican Cheryl Moomey 25.4% 64,508      Liberty Union Boots Wardinski 1.9% 4,827      Write-In Various 0.1% 144 Total Votes 254,393 Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. 2004 On November 2, 2004, Deb Markowitz won re-election to the office of Secretary of State of Vermont. She ran unopposed in the general election. Secretary of State of Vermont, 2004 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic/Republican Deb Markowitz Incumbent 99.4% 270,744      Write-In Various 0.6% 1,737 Total Votes 272,481 Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. 2002 On November 5, 2002, Deborah Markowitz won re-election to the office of Secretary of State of Vermont. She defeated Mike Bertrand (R), Leslie Yvonne Scaffidi (Liberty Union) and Tina M. Thompson (Vermont Grassroots) in the general election. Secretary of State of Vermont, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Deborah Markowitz Incumbent 58.8% 131,469      Republican Mike Bertrand 37.1% 82,905      Liberty Union Leslie Yvonne Scaffidi 0.9% 1,968      Vermont Grassroots Tina M. Thompson 3.2% 7,166      Write-In Various 0.1% 113 Total Votes 223,621 Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. 2000 On November 7, 2000, Deb Markowitz won re-election to the office of Secretary of State of Vermont. She defeated Larry Drown (R) and Leslie Yvonne Scaffidi (Liberty Union) in the general election. Secretary of State of Vermont, 2000 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Deb Markowitz Incumbent 61.3% 170,403      Republican Larry Drown 36.6% 101,783      Liberty Union Leslie Yvonne Scaffidi 2% 5,650      Write-In Various 0.1% 319 Total Votes 278,155 Election results via Vermont Secretary of State.

Vacancies

Section 20 of the Vermont Constitution, grants the governor the power to fill a vacancy in the office by appointment. The appointee shall serve until the next regularly scheduled election.

Duties

The office of the Secretary of State performs a number of important functions:

• Administers a records management program for Vermont public agencies
• Licenses, certifies, and registers certain occupations and professions
• Registers all business entities in the state
• Serves as the filing repository for Uniform Commercial Code filings
• Serves as the state's chief election officer

• Administers elections, oversees campaign finance reporting and lobbyist disclosure laws, and encourages civic participation through programs like Kids Voting Vermont and Honor a Vet with your Vote

• Provides local officials and members of the public with information, assistance, and educational materials related to municipal law and practice and the requirements of Vermont's open government laws
• Oversees the filing and publication of administrative rules by all state agencies
• Oversees all of the state's notaries public
• Manages a confidentiality program to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking avoid being tracked down by an abuser using state or local public records

Divisions

As of January 27, 2021, divisions within the secretary of state's office included:

• Corporations Division
• VSARA
• Elections Division
• Office of Professional Regulation
• Municipal Resources

State budget

See also: Vermont state budget and finances

The budget for the Office of the Secretary of State in Fiscal Year 2025 was $27,938,898.

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

The secretary of state, along with the rest of Vermont's elected executives, is legally entitled to an annual salary in accordance with Title 32, Chapter 15 of the Vermont Statutes (32 V.S.A. § 1003). Taking into account value adjustments, the statute contains real compensation figures for the previous and current year only.

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $127,546, according to the Council of State Governments.

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $121,576, according to the Council of State Governments.

2021

In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $116,730, according to the Council of State Governments.

2020

In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $116,729 according to the Council of State Governments.

2019

In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $113,042 according to the Council of State Governments.

2018

In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $158,966 according to the Council of State Governments.

2017

In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $105,290 according to the Council of State Governments.

2016

In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $99,944 according to the Council of State Governments.

2015

In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $98,280 according to the Council of State Governments.

2014

In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $95,139 according to the Council of State Governments.

2013

In 2013, the secretary was paid an estimated $95,139 according to the Council of State Governments.

2012

In 2012, the secretary was paid an estimated $90,376 according to the Council of State Governments.

2010

In 2010, the secretary was paid an estimated $90,376 according to the Council of State Governments.

Historical officeholders

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Vermont 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 Vermont Secretary of State. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Vermont Secretary of State - Google News

Contact information

Vermont Secretary of State's Office
128 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633-1101
Phone: (802) 828-2148

External links

Suggest a link

• Vermont Secretary of State