View source for Secretary of State of Kentucky

{{Short description|Constitutional officer of the U.S. state of Kentucky}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox official post
|post            = Secretary of State
|body            = Kentucky
|insignia        = Seal of Kentucky.svg
|insigniasize    = 150
|insigniacaption = [[Seal of Kentucky]]
|image           = Michael Adams.jpg
|imagesize=200px
|incumbent       = [[Michael Adams (Kentucky politician)|Michael Adams]]
|incumbentsince  = January 6, 2020
|termlength      = 4 years
|formation       = [[Constitution of Kentucky|Kentucky Constitution]]<br>1792
|inaugural       = [[James Brown (Louisiana politician)|James Brown]] <br>June 5, 1792
|website         = {{URL|sos.ky.gov}}
|salary          = $124,113.60<ref>{{cite web |url=https://transparency.ky.gov/search/Pages/SalarySearch.aspx#/salary|title=Transparency.ky.gov – Salary Search|access-date=August 4, 2018|date=August 4, 2018}}</ref>
}}
The '''secretary of state of Kentucky''' is one of the constitutional officers of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kentucky]]. It is now an elected office, but was an appointed office prior to 1891. The current secretary of state is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Michael Adams (Kentucky politician)|Michael Adams]], who was elected on [[2019 Kentucky Secretary of State election|November 5, 2019]]; he took office on January 6, 2020.

==History and name of position==
Despite the fact that Kentucky designates itself a [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|commonwealth]], the office itself is still referred to as "Secretary of State" (unlike Virginia, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, which refer to the office as "[[Secretary of the Commonwealth (disambiguation)|Secretary of the Commonwealth]]"). The office was created by Article II, Section 17 of the [[Kentucky Constitution]] of 1792 simply as "the secretary". Article III, Section 21, of the Kentucky Constitution of 1850 changed the title of the office to Secretary of State.

Section 91 of the Kentucky Constitution of 1891 (the most recent state constitution), changed the method by which the secretary of state is selected. Prior to 1891, the secretary was appointed by the governor; under the present Constitution, the secretary of state is elected by the qualified voters of the state. The most recent [[2023 Kentucky Secretary of State election|election was in 2023]]. In 1992, the Constitution was amended to allow the secretary of state to serve two successive terms.<ref>[http://sos.ky.gov/executive/ Executive Branch of the Office of the Secretary of State—History of the office]</ref><ref>[http://apps.sos.ky.gov/secdesk/sosinfo/sostimeline.aspx Timeline of legal changes to the Office of Secretary of State]</ref>

[[Emma Guy Cromwell]] ran for the office of Secretary of State, defeating another woman, [[Mary Elliott Flanery]], and two men in the 1923 Democratic primary. In the general election, Cromwell went on to defeat her Republican opponent, Eleanor Wickliffe. She was sworn in on January 10, 1924, and became the first woman elected to statewide office in Kentucky.<ref name="Kentucky Secretary of State">{{cite web|url=http://apps.sos.ky.gov/secdesk/sosinfo/default.aspx?id=62|title=Secretary of State: Emma Guy Cromwell|work=Kentucky Secretary of State|publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky|access-date=March 12, 2010|location=Frankfort, Kentucky}}</ref>

==Structure and duties of the office==
The secretary of state's office is composed of five divisions:

*The [http://sos.ky.gov/business/ Business Services Division] is responsible for maintaining records regarding creation and status of [[corporation]]s and business entities, registration of [[trademark]]s and [[service mark]]s, recording [[lien]]s made pursuant to the [[Uniform Commercial Code]].
*The [http://sos.ky.gov/elections/ Elections Division] certifies the name, party affiliation and ballot position of all candidates filed with him to the appropriate county clerks for ballot printing. The actual administration of elections is conducted by a separate, independent agency, the [http://www.elect.ky.gov/ Kentucky State Board of Elections], of which the secretary of state serves as chair.
*The [http://sos.ky.gov/adminservices/ Administrative Services Division] appoints [[Notary public|notaries public]], issues [[apostille]]s, and serves as the [[registered agent]] for [[service of process]] in cases involving foreign corporations, as well as service of [[summons]] and petitions in actions against non-resident motorists.
*[http://sos.ky.gov/land/ Kentucky Land Office] is an [[archive]] of [[land patent]]s and [[land grant]]s dating back to the colonial era.
*[http://sos.ky.gov/executive/ Executive Branch of the Office of the Secretary of State] files and maintains [[legislation]] passed by the [[Kentucky General Assembly]] and [[Executive order (United States)|executive order]]s of the [[governor of Kentucky]], including appointments to the [[Kentucky colonel|Order of Kentucky Colonels]]. This division is also the keeper of the [[Seal of Kentucky|Seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky]] and the personal seal of the secretary of state.

==List of secretaries of state of Kentucky==
{| class="wikitable"
! #
! Image
! Name
! Term of office
! Party
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|1
|[[File:Senator James Brown of Louisiana (1766-1835).jpg|60px]]
|[[James Brown (Louisiana politician)|James Brown]]  
|1792–1796
|[[Democratic-Republican Party|Democratic-Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|2
|
|[[Harry Toulmin (Unitarian minister)|Harry Toulmin]]  
|1796–1804
|Democratic-Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|3
|[[File:John Rowan.jpg|60px]]
|[[John Rowan (Kentucky politician)|John Rowan]]  
|1804–1807
|Democratic-Republican
|-
|4
|
|[[Alfred W. Grayson]] 
|1807–1808
|
|-
|5
|
|[[William C. Greenup]]
|1808
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|6
|[[File:Jesse Bledsoe.jpg|60px]]
|[[Jesse Bledsoe]]
|1808–1812
|Democratic-Republican
|-
|7
|
|[[Fielding Winlock]]
|1812
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|8
|[[File:Martin D Hardin.jpg|60px]]
|[[Martin D. Hardin]]
|1812
|Democratic-Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|9
|[[File:Christopher Greenup.jpg|60px]]
|[[Christopher Greenup]]
|1813
|Democratic-Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|10
|[[File:Martin D Hardin.jpg|60px]]
|Martin D. Hardin
|1813–1816
|Democratic-Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|11
|[[File:Charles S. Todd (US Minister to Russia).jpg|60px]]
|[[Charles Stewart Todd]]
|1816
|Democratic-Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|12
|[[File:AR Pope John.jpg|60px]]
|[[John Pope (Kentucky politician)|John Pope]]
|1816–1819
|Democratic-Republican
|-
|13
|[[File:Oliver G. Waggener.jpg|frameless|60px]]
|[[Oliver G. Waggener]]
|1819–1820
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|14
|
|[[Cabell Breckinridge]]
|1820–1823
|Democratic-Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|15
|
|[[Thomas Bell Monroe]]
|1823–1824
|Democratic-Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|16
|[[File:William T. Barry by C.B. King.jpg|60px]]
|[[William T. Barry]]
|1824–1825
|Democratic-Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|17
|
|[[James Chamberlayne Pickett|James C. Pickett]]
|1825–1828
|Democratic-Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic-Republican}}
|18
|[[File:Rep George Robertson cropped.jpg|60px]]
|[[George Robertson (congressman)|George Robertson]]
|1828
|Democratic-Republican
|-
|19
|
|[[Thomas T. Crittenden (Kentucky politician)|Thomas T. Crittenden]]
|1828–1832
|
|-
|20
|
|[[John F. McCurdy]]
|1832
|
|-
|21
|
|[[Lewis Sanders (Kentucky)|Lewis Sanders]]
|1832–1834
|
|-{{Party shading/National Republican}}
|22
|[[File:John J Crittenden.jpg|60px]]
|[[John Jordan Crittenden]]
|1834–1835
|[[National Republican Party|National Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/National Republican}}
|23
|[[File:William-Owsley-sketch.jpg|60px]]
|[[William Owsley]]
|1835–1836
|National Republican
|-
|24
|
|[[Austin P. Cox]]
|1836
|
|-
|25
|
|[[James M. Bullock]]
|1836–1840
|
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
|26
|[[File:James Harlan (Kentucky attorney general).jpg|60px]]
|[[James Harlan (congressman)|James Harlan]]
|1840–1844
|[[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]]
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
|27
|[[File:Benjamin-Hardin-sketch.jpg|60px]]
|[[Benjamin Hardin]]
|1844–1846
|Whig
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
|28
|
|[[George B. Kinkead]]
|1846–1847
|Whig
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
|29
|
|[[William Decatur Reed]]
|1847–1848
|Whig
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
|30
|[[File:Orlando Brown, attributed to George Harrison Hite.jpg|60px]]
|[[Orlando Brown (Kentucky politician)|Orlando Brown]]
|1848–1849
|Whig
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
|31
|[[File:Joshua-Fry-Bell.jpg|60px]]
|[[Joshua Fry Bell]]
|1849–1850
|Whig
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
|32
|
|[[John William Finnell]]
|1850–1851
|Whig
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|33
|[[File:David Meriwether.jpg|60px]]
|[[David Meriwether (Kentucky politician)|David Meriwether]]
|1851–1852
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|34
|
|[[James P. Metcalfe]]
|1852–1854
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|35
|
|[[Grant Green (Kentucky politician)|Grant Green]]
|1854–1855
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/American}}
|36
|
|[[Mason Brown]]
|1855–1859
|[[Know Nothing|American]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|37
|
|[[Thomas Bell Monroe Jr.]]
|1859–1861
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|38
|
|[[Nathaniel Gaither]]
|1861–1862
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|39
|
|[[Daniel C. Wickliffe]]
|1862–1863
|Democratic
|-
|40
|[[File:Ephraim L. Van Winkle.jpg|60px]]
|[[Ephraim L. Van Winkle]]
|1863–1866
|
|-
|41
|
|[[John S. Van Winkle]]
|1866–1867
|
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|42
|[[File:Samuel B. Churchill Kentucky Secretary of State.jpg|60px]]
|[[Samuel B. Churchill]]
|1867–1871
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|43
|
|[[Andrew Jackson James]]
|1871–1872
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|44
|
|[[George Washington Craddock]]
|1872–1875
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|45
|[[File:Josiah Stoddard Johnston.png|60px]]
|[[J. Stoddard Johnston]]
|1875–1879
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|46
|[[File:Samuel B. Churchill Kentucky Secretary of State.jpg|60px]]
|Samuel B. Churchill
|1879–1880
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|47
|[[File:James W. Blackburn Kentucky Secretary of State.jpg|60px]]
|[[James W. Blackburn]]
|1880–1883
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|48
|[[File:James-A.-McKenzie.jpg|60px]]
|[[James A. McKenzie]]
|1883–1887
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|49
|[[File:George Madison Adams LOC.jpg|60px]]
|[[George Madison Adams]]
|1887–1891
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|50
|
|[[Willis Lunsford Ringo]]
|1891
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|51
|
|[[John W. Headley]]
|1891–1896
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|52
|[[File:Charles Finley (Kentucky Congressman).jpg|60px]]
|[[Charles Finley (politician)|Charles Finley]]
|1896–1899
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|53
|
|John W. Headley
|1899
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|54
|[[File:Charles Finley (Kentucky Congressman).jpg|60px]]
|Charles Finley
|1899
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|55
|[[File:Caleb Powers 2.jpg|60px]]
|[[Caleb Powers]]
|1899–1900
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|56
|
|[[Caleb Breckinridge Hill]]
|1900–1904
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|57
|
|[[Harry V. McChesney]]
|1904–1908
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|58
|
|[[Ben L. Bruner]]
|1908–1912
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|59
|
|[[Carl F. Crecelius]]
|1912–1916
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|60
|[[File:Sec. of State of Kentucky James P. Lewis.png|60px]]
|[[James P. Lewis]]
|1916–1920
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|61
|[[File:Secretary of State of Kentucky Fred A. Vaugn.jpg|60px]]
|[[Fred A. Vaughn]]
|1920–1924
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|62
|[[File:EmmaGuyCromwell-KYsecyofState.jpg|60px]]
|[[Emma Guy Cromwell]]
|1924–1928
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|63
|
|[[Ella Lewis]]
|1928–1932
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|64
|
|[[Sara W. Mahan]]
|1932–1936
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|65
|
|[[Charles D. Arnett]]
|1936–1940
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|66
|
|[[George G. Hatcher]]
|1940–1944
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|67
|
|[[Charles K. O'Connell]]
|1944–1948
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|68
|
|[[George G. Hatcher]]
|1948–1952
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|69
|
|Charles K. O'Connell
|1952–1956
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|70
|[[File:Kentucky Secretary of state Thelma Stovall 1967.jpg|60px]]
|[[Thelma Stovall]]
|1956–1960
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|71
|[[File:Henry H. Carter Secretary of State of Kentucky.jpg|60px]]
|[[Henry H. Carter (politician)|Henry H. Carter]]
|1960–1964
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|72
|[[File:Kentucky Secretary of state Thelma Stovall 1967.jpg|60px]]
|Thelma Stovall
|1964–1968
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|73
|[[File:Elmer Begley.jpg|60px]]
|[[Elmer Begley]]
|1968–1970
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|74
|[[File:Leila Feltner Begley.jpg|60px]]
|[[Leila Feltner Begley]]
|1970–1971
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|75
|
|[[Kenneth F. Harper]]
|1971–1972
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|76
|[[File:Kentucky Secretary of state Thelma Stovall 1967.jpg|60px]]
|Thelma Stovall
|1972–1976
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|77
|
|[[Drexell R. Davis]]
|1976–1980
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|78
|
|[[Frances Jones Mills]]
|1980–1984
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|79
|
|Drexell R. Davis
|1984–1988
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|80
|
|[[Bremer Ehrler]]
|1988–1992
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|81
|[[File:Bob Babbage.jpg|60px]]
|[[Bob Babbage]]
|1992–1996
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|82
|
|[[John Young Brown III]]
|1996–2004
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|83
|[[File:Trey Grayson official photo.jpg|60px]]
|[[Trey Grayson]]
|2004–2011
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|84
|
|[[Elaine Walker (politician)|Elaine Walker]]
|2011–2012
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|85
|[[File:Alison Lundergan Grimes by Gage Skidmore (1).jpg|60px]]
|[[Alison Lundergan Grimes]]
|2012–2020
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|86
|[[File:Michael Adams.jpg|60px]]
|[[Michael Adams (Kentucky politician)|Michael Adams]]
|2020–present
|Republican
|}

==See also==
* [[Kentucky Attorney General]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://sos.ky.gov/ Official homepage of the Kentucky Secretary of State]
*[https://web.sos.ky.gov/ofx/secsofstate.aspx List of past Secretaries of State of Kentucky]

{{U.S. State Secretaries of State}}
{{Kentucky statewide elected officials}}

[[Category:Secretaries of state of Kentucky| ]]