Minnesota Secretary of State

The Minnesota Secretary of State is the state secretary of state of the state of Minnesota.

The Secretary of State is the keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota and files and certifies the authenticity of a wide variety of official documents. The Secretary of State registers a variety of business associations, including corporations, assumed business names, banks, insurance companies, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, and limited partnerships. A statewide computerized network with county recorders is maintained so that the public may search Uniform Commercial Code records throughout the state from any filing office.

The Secretary of State is also the chief election official in Minnesota and is responsible for administration of the Minnesota election law. The secretary of state administers the open appointments process and publishes theMinnesota Legislative Manual, a compendium of federal, state and county government information.

The Secretary of State serves as a member on the Minnesota Executive Council, Minnesota Board of Investment, and the Minnesota Historical Society executive board.

Territory

Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
Charles K. Smith	1849	1851	Whig
Alexander Wilkin	1851	1853	Whig
Joseph T. Rosser	1853	1857	Democrat
Charles L. Chase	1857	1858	Democrat

State

In 1886, elections were moved from odd years to even years. Beginning with the 1962 election, the term of the office increased from two to four years.

No.	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
1	Francis Baasen	1858	1860	Democrat
2	James H. Baker	1860	1862	Republican
3	David Blakeley	1862	1868	Republican
4	Henry C. Rogers	1868	1870	Republican
5	Hans Mattson	1870	1872	Republican
6	Samuel P. Jennison	1872	1876	Republican
7	John S. Irgens	1876	1880	Republican
8	Frederick Von Baumbach	1880	1887	Republican
9	Hans Mattson	1887	1891	Republican
10	Frederick P. Brown	1891	1895	Republican
11	Albert Berg	1895	1901	Republican
12	Pener E. Hanson	1901	1907	Republican
13	Julius A. Schmahl	1907	1921	Republican
14	Mike Holm	1921	1952	Republican
15	H. H. Chesterman	1952	1952
16	Virginia Paul Holm	1952	1955	Republican
17	Joseph L. Donovan	1955	1971	DFL
18	Arlen Erdahl	1971	1975	Republican
19	Joan Growe	1975	1999	DFL
20	Mary Kiffmeyer	1999	2007	Republican
21	Mark Ritchie	2007	January 5, 2015	DFL
22	Steve Simon	January 5, 2015		DFL

• Chesterman served as Assistant Secretary of State under Mike Holm, and was appointed to the position upon Holm's death. He left office later that same year, and never stood for election.

Notes on Minnesota political party names

• Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party: On April 15, 1944 the state Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party merged and created the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.
• Republican Party of Minnesota: From November 15, 1975 to September 23, 1995 the name of the state Republican party was the Independent-Republican party (I-R). The party has always been affiliated with the national Republican Party.

See also

• List of company registers

External links

• Minnesota Secretary of State website
• mnvotes.org