View source for Secretary of State of Indiana

{{Short description|Constitutional office in Indiana, United States}}
{{Infobox Political post
| post = Secretary of State
| body = Indiana
| insignia = Indiana-StateSeal.svg
| insigniasize = 150
| insigniacaption = [[Seal of Indiana]]
| image =File:Diego Morales (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 
| incumbent = [[Diego Morales (politician)|Diego Morales]]
| incumbentsince = January 9, 2023
| style = 
| appointer = 
| termlength = 4 years
| formation = [[Constitution of Indiana|Indiana Constitution]]<br />1816
| succession = [[Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Indiana|Sixth]]
| inaugural = [[Robert A. New]]<br />November 7, 1816
| website = [http://www.in.gov/sos/ www.in.gov/sos]
|salary   = $145,876<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2024/09/24/pay-raises-incoming-for-indianas-highest-elected-officials/ |title=Pay raises incoming for Indiana’s highest elected officials |publisher=[[States Newsroom|Indiana Capital Chronicle]]|access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref>
}}

The '''secretary of state of Indiana''' is one of five constitutional officers originally designated in [[Indiana]]'s [[Constitution of Indiana|state constitution]] of 1816. Since 1851, it has been an elected position. The secretary of state oversees four divisions, and is the third highest constitutional office of the state government. The secretary serves as the state's chief election officer, enforces state securities regulations, regulates automobile dealerships in Indiana, and manages the state business services division. The current office holder is [[Diego Morales (politician)|Diego Morales]].

==Qualifications and term limits==
The Indiana secretary of state is a constitutional office first established in the 1816 [[Constitution of Indiana]]. Between 1816 and until 1851, the secretary of state was nominated by the governor and confirmed by the state senate. With the adoption of the current constitution in 1851 the secretary of state's office was filled by a public statewide election every four years.<ref name = ic14>Indiana Chamber, p. 14</ref>

To be eligible to serve as secretary of state, a candidate must be a registered voter who is at least 30 years old on the day they take the oath of office. Secretaries of state take office on December 1 following their election and hold office for four years. Should they resign, be impeached, or die in office the governor has the power to appoint a temporary secretary of state to serve until the next general election. The new secretary of state, either appointed or elected, may only complete the term of the previous secretary of state, not serve a new four-year term. A secretary of state may be reelected any number of times, but may serve no more than eight years in any 12-year period. As of 2014, the salary for the secretary is $74,580 annually.<ref name="ballotpedia.org">{{Cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Secretary_of_State_of_Indiana|title = Indiana Secretary of State}}</ref>

Elections for secretary of state determine party status in Indiana. A party's secretary of state candidate must garner at least 10 percent of the vote for his or her party to be considered a major party in the state.<ref>Shella, Jim. [http://blogs.wishtv.com/2011/03/11/charlie-white-could-damage-gop-more-than-you-think "Charlie White could damage GOP more than you think"]. [[WISH-TV]], 2011-03-11.</ref>

==Powers==
Indiana's secretary of state is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the Government of Indiana. State law designates the Indiana secretary of state as the state’s chief election officer.<ref>[http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2014/ic/titles/003/articles/006/chapters/3.7/#section-1 Ind. Code 3-6-3.7-1]</ref> The Indiana Election Division assists the secretary in receiving candidate filings and certifying election results.<ref>[http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2014/ic/titles/003/articles/006/chapters/4.2/ Ind. Code 3-6-4.2]</ref> The Indiana Election Division also receives campaign finance reports and assists the Indiana Election Commission in the administration of campaign finance laws.<ref>[http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2014/ic/titles/003/articles/006/chapters/4.1/ Ind. Code 3-6-4.1]</ref> The secretary of state serves as chair of the State Recount Commission which conducts recounts and contests regarding major party primary nominations and general elections for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices.<ref>[http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2014/ic/titles/003/articles/012/chapters/010/ Ind. Code 3-12-10]</ref>

The [[Indiana General Assembly]] has granted the secretary additional statutory powers to maintain the state's registry of [[notary|notaries]].<ref>[http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2014/ic/titles/033/articles/042/chapters/002/ Ind. Code 33-42-2-1(c)]</ref>

The Indiana Securities Division is placed under the leadership of the secretary. The division is statutory and is responsible for enforcing regulations on the purchase, sale, and trade of all security investments in the state. The division is responsible for granting operating licenses to collection agencies who wish to collect debts within the state. The division investigates violations of the state securities laws, can levy fines on law violators, and can request the [[Indiana Attorney General|Indiana attorney general]] pursue criminal charges. As of 2007, the division regulated over 1,000 trading firms and their nearly 40,000 agents.<ref>[http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2014/ic/titles/023/articles/019/chapters/006/ Ind. Code 23-19-6-1]</ref>

The secretary also heads the statutory Division of Business Services. The division is responsible for maintaining the records of all corporations operating within Indiana, which in 2007 amounted to over 250,000 active and inactive corporations. Non-profit businesses, [[limited liability companies]], and [[limited liability partnerships]] also are required to register with the division. The division also approves [[trademark]]s and service marks for state companies. The division also maintains Indiana's [[Uniform Commercial Code]] which documents the assets and finances of businesses that fall under jurisdiction of the code. In 2007, approximately one million records were kept in accordance with the code.<ref>Indiana Code, p. 16</ref>

==Duties==
The secretary of state is one of five constitutional officers originally designated in Indiana's State Constitution of 1816. Sixty-one Hoosiers have served as the third highest-ranking official in state government.

Early duties of the office included the maintenance of state records and preservation of the state seal. But as state government expanded, so did the responsibilities of the secretary of state. Present responsibilities include chartering of new business, regulation of the securities industry, administering regulations relating to the registration of motorized vehicle dealers, and oversight of state elections.

==Organization of office==
The Executive Office, located in the Indiana Statehouse, oversees the overall policy, management, and budgeting for the entire office. Four main divisions comprise the balance of the office: Elections, Business Services, Securities and Dealer Services.

'''Elections''': The Elections Division assists the secretary of state in carrying out the responsibilities assigned as Indiana's chief elections officer. The bipartisan division is composed of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. The division's administrative responsibilities include overseeing the candidate declaration process, certifying election results, and maintaining campaign finance reports. The secretary of state also serves as chairperson for the Indiana Recount Commission and participates in voter outreach projects aimed at increasing voter participation. The Indiana Election Commission, as opposed to the division, is an independently appointed commission of two Republicans and two Democrats. The commission deals with questions associated with violations of the Indiana election laws, and with the imposition of penalties.

'''Business Services''': The Business Services Division administers all business-related responsibilities for the secretary of state including the chartering of new businesses, the filing of commercial liens, and the issuance of trademarks, notaries public and summonses.

'''Securities''': The Securities Division oversees Indiana's securities industry. The division is charged with protecting Hoosier investors by bringing enforcement actions against companies and individuals selling securities in violation of Indiana's securities laws and by educating Hoosiers about prudent investing. Over the past four years, the division has imposed a record amount in fines and penalties against scam artists preying upon unsuspecting Hoosier investors.

'''Dealer Services''': Dealer Services administers regulations relating to the registration of motorized vehicle dealers, including dealers for automobiles, watercraft, off-road vehicles and automobile salvage.

==List of secretaries of state==
{{legend2|#aacc99|[[Democratic-Republican Party|Democratic-Republican]]|border=1px solid #aaaaaa}}
{{legend2|#cceeff|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]|border=1px solid #aaaaaa}}
{{legend2|#ffffcc|[[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]]|border=1px solid #aaaaaa}}
{{legend2|#ffb6b6|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]|border=1px solid #aaaaaa}}

===Territorial secretaries===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!#!!Name!!Took office!!Left office!!Party!!Hometown!!Notes
|- {{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|1
|[[John Gibson (Indiana)|John Gibson]]
|July 4, 1800
|November 7, 1816
|Democratic-Republican
|[[Knox County, Indiana]]
|{{Efn|Served as acting governor of [[Indiana Territory]] from December 28, 1812 to March 3, 1813}}
|}

===Secretaries of state===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!#!!Image!!Name!!Took office!!Left office!!Party!!Hometown!!Notes
|- {{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|1
|
|[[Robert A. New]]
|November 7, 1816
|December 6, 1825
|Democratic-Republican
|[[Clark County, Indiana]]
|r
|- {{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|2
|[[File:WilliamWick.jpg|60px]]
|[[William W. Wick]]
|January 14, 1825
|January 14, 1829
|Democratic-Republican
|[[Connersville, Indiana]]
|
|- {{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|3
|
|[[James Morrison (Indiana politician)|James Morrison]]
|January 14, 1829
|January 14, 1833
|Democratic-Republican
|[[Charlestown, Indiana]]
|
|- {{Party shading/Whig}}
|4
|
|William Sheets
|January 14, 1833
|January 14, 1837
|Whig
|[[Madison, Indiana]]
|
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|5
|
|[[William J. Brown (Indiana politician)|William J. Brown]]
|January 14, 1837
|January 14, 1841
|Democratic
|[[Rushville, Indiana]]
|
|- {{Party shading/Whig}}
|6
|
|William Sheets
|January 14, 1841
|January 14, 1845
|Whig
|[[Madison, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
|7
|
|John H. Thompson
|January 14, 1845
|January 14, 1849
|Whig
|[[Clark County, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|8
|
|Charles H. Test
|January 14, 1849
|January 14, 1851
|Democratic
|[[Wayne County, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|9
|
|Nehemiah Hayden
|January 14, 1853
|January 14, 1855
|Democratic
|[[Rush County, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|10
|
|Erasmus B. Collins
|January 14, 1855
|January 14, 1857
|Republican
|[[Dearborn County, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|11
|
|Daniel McClure
|January 16, 1857
|October 28, 1858
|Democratic
|[[Marion County, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=resigned|Resigned from office}}
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|12
|[[File:Dunham.jpg|60px]]
|[[Cyrus L. Dunham]]
|October 28, 1858
|January 15, 1861
|Democratic
|[[New Albany, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|13
|
|William A. Peele
|January 15, 1861
|January 15, 1863
|Republican
|[[Winchester, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|14
|
|James S. Athon
|January 16, 1863
|January 16, 1865
|Democratic
|[[Marion County, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|15
|
|Nelson Trusler
|January 16, 1865
|January 16, 1869
|Republican
|[[Connersville, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|16
|
|Max F. A. Hoffman
|January 16, 1869
|January 16, 1871
|Republican
|[[Valparaiso, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|17
|[[File:NormanEddy.jpg|60px]]
|[[Norman Eddy]]
|January 16, 1871
|February 1, 1872
|Democratic
|[[South Bend, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=died|Died in office}}
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|18
|
|[[John H. Farquhar]]
|February 1, 1872
|January 16, 1873
|Republican
|[[Richmond, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|19
|
|William W. Curry
|January 16, 1873
|January 16, 1875
|Republican
|[[Terre Haute, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|20
|
|John E. Neff
|January 16, 1875
|January 16, 1879
|Democratic
|[[Winchester, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|21
|
|John G. Shanklin
|January 16, 1879
|January 16, 1881
|Democratic
|[[Evansville, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|22
|
|Emanuel R. Hawn
|January 16, 1881
|January 16, 1883
|Republican
|[[Leavenworth, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|23
|
|[[William R. Myers]]
|January 16, 1883
|January 16, 1887
|Democratic
|[[Anderson, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|24
|
|Charles F. Griffin
|January 16, 1887
|January 16, 1891
|Republican
|[[Hammond, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|25
|[[File:Claudematthewsindiana.jpg|60px]]
|[[Claude Matthews]]
|January 16, 1891
|January 9, 1893
|Democratic
|[[Vermillion County, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=resigned}}{{efn|name=gov|Served as [[Governor of Indiana]]}}
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|26
|
|Myron D. King
|January 9, 1893
|January 17, 1893
|Democratic
|[[Covington, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|27
|
|William R. Myers
|January 17, 1893
|January 17, 1895
|Democratic
|[[Anderson, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|28
|[[File:William D. Owen (Indiana Congressman).jpg|60px]]
|[[William D. Owen]]
|January 17, 1895
|January 17, 1899
|Republican
|[[Bedford, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|29
|
|Union B. Hunt
|January 17, 1899
|January 17, 1903
|Republican
|[[Randolph County, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|30
|
|Daniel E. Storms
|January 17, 1903
|April 1, 1906
|Republican
|[[Stockwell, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=resigned}}
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|31
|
|Fred A. Sims
|April 1, 1906
|November 27, 1910
|Republican
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|32
|
|L. G. Ellingham
|November 27, 1910
|November 27, 1914
|Democratic
|[[Decatur, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|33
|
|Homer L. Cook
|November 27, 1914
|November 27, 1916
|Democratic
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|34
|[[File:EdwardLJackson.jpg|60px]]
|[[Edward L. Jackson]]
|November 27, 1916
|November 21, 1917
|Republican
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=resigned}}{{efn|name=gov}}
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|35
|
|William A. Roach
|November 22, 1917
|January 17, 1920
|Republican
|[[Delphi, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=died}}<ref>Pliny H. Wolford served as acting Secretary of State for four days between the death of William A. Roach and the appointment of Edward L. Jackson (Funk, p. 208)</ref>
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|36
|[[File:EdwardLJackson.jpg|60px]]
|[[Edward L. Jackson]]
|January 22, 1920
|November 27, 1924
|Republican
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=gov}}
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|37
|
|[[Fred Schortemeier]]
|December 1, 1924
|December 1, 1928
|Republican
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|38
|
|Otto G. Fifield
|December 1, 1928
|December 1, 1930
|Republican
|[[Crown Point, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|39
|
|Frank Mayr Jr.
|December 1, 1930
|December 1, 1934
|Democratic
|[[South Bend, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|40
|
|August G. Mueller
|December 1, 1934
|December 1, 1938
|Democratic
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|41
|
|James M. Tucker
|December 1, 1938
|July 25, 1942
|Republican
|[[Paoli, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=resigned}}
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|42
|
|Maurice G. Thompson
|July 25, 1942
|December 1, 1942
|Republican
|[[Anderson, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|43
|
|[[Rue J. Alexander]]
|December 1, 1942
|December 1, 1946
|Republican
|[[Pine Village, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|44
|
|Thomas E. Bath Jr.
|December 2, 1946
|December 1, 1948
|Republican
|[[South Bend, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|45
|
|Charles F. Fleming
|December 1, 1948
|December 1, 1950
|Democratic
|[[Hammond, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|46
|
|Leland L. Smith
|December 1, 1950
|December 1, 1952
|Republican
|[[Logansport, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|47
|[[File:Crawford parker (cropped) (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|[[Crawford F. Parker]]
|December 1, 1952
|December 1, 1956
|Republican
|[[New Castle, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|48
|
|Frank A. Lennings
|December 1, 1956
|December 1, 1958
|Republican
|[[Bloomfield, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|49
|
|[[John R. Walsh]]
|December 1, 1958
|December 1, 1960
|Democratic
|[[Martinsville, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|50
|
|Charles O. Hendricks
|December 1, 1960
|December 1, 1964
|Republican
|[[Speed, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|51
|
|John D. Bottorff
|December 1, 1964
|December 1, 1966
|Democratic
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|52
|[[File:Edgar D. Whitcomb (IN).png|60px]]
|[[Edgar Whitcomb]]
|December 1, 1966
|December 1, 1968
|Republican
|[[Seymour, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=gov}}
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|53
|
|[[William N. Salin]]
|December 1, 1968
|December 1, 1970
|Republican
|[[Fort Wayne, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|54
|
|Larry Conrad
|December 1, 1970
|December 1, 1978
|Democratic
|[[Muncie, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|55
|
|[[Edwin Simcox]]
|December 1, 1978
|December 1, 1986
|Republican
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|56
|[[File:Evan Bayh official portrait v2.jpg|60px]]
|[[Evan Bayh]]
|December 1, 1986
|January 9, 1989
|Democratic
|[[Evansville, Indiana]]
|{{efn|name=gov}}
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|57
|[[File:JoeHogsett-USAttorney (1).jpg|60px]]
|[[Joe Hogsett]]
|January 9, 1989
|December 1, 1994
|Democratic
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|58
|
|[[Sue Anne Gilroy]]
|December 1, 1994
|December 1, 2002
|Republican
|[[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|59
|[[File:Todd Rokita.jpg|60px]]
|[[Todd Rokita]]
|December 1, 2002
|December 1, 2010
|Republican
|[[Munster, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|60
|
|[[Charles P. White|Charlie White]]
|January 6, 2011
|February 4, 2012
|Republican
|[[Fishers, Indiana]]
|
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|–
|
|[[Jerry Bonnet]]
|February 4, 2012
|March 16, 2012
|Republican
|[[Yorktown, Indiana]]
|{{efn|Served on an interim basis after the expulsion of White from office}}
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|61
|[[File:Connie Lawson (1).jpg|60px]]
|[[Connie Lawson]]
|March 16, 2012
|March 16, 2021
|Republican
|[[Danville, Indiana]]
|<ref>{{cite news |title=Gov. Mitch Daniels picks Connie Lawson as new Indiana Secretary of State |author=Mary Beth Schneider |url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20120316/NEWS05/120316017/Daniels-picks-Sen-Connie-Lawson-Danville-new-secretary-state |newspaper=Indianapolis Star |date=March 15, 2012 |access-date=March 15, 2012}}</ref>
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|62
|[[File:Holli Sullivan (2020).jpg|60px]]
|[[Holli Sullivan]]
|March 16, 2021
|January 9, 2023
|Republican
|[[Evansville, Indiana]]
|<ref>{{cite news |title=Holli Sullivan of Evansville named new Indiana Secretary of State |author=John T. Martin and Thomas B. Langhorne|url=https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2021/03/16/holli-sullivan-evansville-named-new-indiana-secretary-state/4718683001/ |newspaper=Courier & Press|date=March 16, 2021 |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref>
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|63
|[[File:Diego Morales (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|[[Diego Morales (politician)|Diego Morales]]
|January 9, 2023
|
|Republican
|[[Sellersburg, Indiana]]
|
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Indiana}}
* [[Government of Indiana]]
* [[List of company registers]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== General and cited references==
* {{Cite book |last=Funk |first=Arville L. |year=1983 |orig-year=1969 |title=A Sketchbook of Indiana History |location=Rochester, Indiana |publisher=Christian Book Press |pages=207–209}}
* {{Cite book |author=Indiana Chamber |year=2007 |title=Here's Your Indiana Government 2007–2008 |url=https://archive.org/details/hereisyourindian00indi |url-access=registration |edition=33rd |location=Indianapolis |publisher=Indiana Chamber of Commerce |isbn=978-1-883698-79-9}}

==External links==
* [http://www.in.gov/sos/ Official homepage of the Indiana Secretary of State]

{{Indiana government}}
{{U.S. State Secretaries of State}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary Of State Of Indiana}}
[[Category:Secretaries of state of Indiana| ]]
[[Category:1816 establishments in Indiana]]