The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities (corporation

Corporation

A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...

s, etc.) and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transaction

Secured transaction

Generally, a secured transaction is a loan or a credit transaction in which the lender acquires a security interest in collateral owned by the borrower and is entitled to foreclose on or repossess the collateral in the event of the borrower's default. The terms of the relationship are governed by a...

s, and granting access to public documents.

From 1803 to 1851, the Ohio Secretary of State was elected by the Ohio General Assembly

Ohio General Assembly

The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...

 to a three-year term. The 1851 Ohio Constitution made the office elective, with a two-year term. In 1954, the office's term was extended to four years. The Secretary of State is elected

Election Results, Ohio Secretary of State

The voters of the U.S. state of Ohio elect a secretary of state for a four-year term....

 in even-numbered, off cycle years, (no Presidential elections), after partisan primary elections.

2004 Registration and Voting Controversy

The State of Ohio's electoral votes were pivotal in the 2004 Presidential election result, and numerous questions arose concerning registration, election, and vote counting in Ohio. One of the charges raised was that of "voter suppression," a term for discouraging or impeding people from voting.

For example, Representative

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 Dennis Kucinich

Dennis Kucinich

Dennis John Kucinich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He was furthermore a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections....

 asserted that:

Dirty tricks occurred across the state, including phony letters from Boards of Elections telling people that their registration through some Democratic activist groups were invalid and that Kerry voters were to report on Wednesday because of massive voter turnout. Phone calls to voters giving them erroneous polling information were also common.

2008 Registration and Voting Controversy

Ohio election law created a five-day window (from September 30, 2008, through October 6, 2008) during which a voter may both register to vote and simultaneously cast an absentee ballot. On August 13, 2008, the Secretary of State issued Directive 2008-63, which directed county boards of elections to develop procedures for same-day registration and the issuance of absentee ballots at the time of registration. Several lawsuits were filed in conjunction with this Directive. The first suit was an original mandamus action against the Secretary filed on September 12, 2008, in the Ohio Supreme Court that challenged Directive 2008-63. See State ex rel. Colvin v. Brunner, No. 2008-1813. This was followed by an action brought by a different group of plaintiffs in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. See Project Vote v. Madison County Bd. of Elections, No. 1:08-cv-2266. That suit sought named the Madison County Board of Elections as a defendant because it had indicated that it would not enforce Directive 2008-63 to allow same-day registration and absentee balloting. The third case was filed in the Southern District of Ohio on September 26, 2008, by the Ohio Republican Party and Larry Wolpert against the Secretary of State. No. 08-00913. In a decision dated on September 30, 2008, in Appeal Nos. 08-4242, 08-4243, and 08-4251, the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a decision effectively rejecting the challenges to Directive 2008-63 and denying injunctive relief. The Court of Appeals reportedly issued an en banc Order in Case No. 08-4322, Ohio Republican Party v. Jennifer Brunner, on October 14, 2008, but the decision cannot be accessed from the court's website until October 15, 2008.

List of Ohio Secretaries of State

Term	Secretary of State	Party	Image	notes
1803–1808	William Creighton, Jr. William Creighton, Jr. William Creighton was an attorney, banker and legislator. He always signed his name "William Creighton, Jr." because he had an elder cousin of the same name who also lived in Ross County, Ohio.- Early life :...	Democratic-Republican
1808–1831	Jeremiah McLene Jeremiah McLene Jeremiah McLene was a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1833 to 1837, major general of militia in the American Revolutionary War, the 2nd Ohio Secretary of State from 1808 to 1831, and a state representative from 1807 to 1808. He served as a Democrat.-Early life:McLene was born in Cumberland...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
1831–1835	Moses H. Kirby Moses H. Kirby Moses H. Kirby was a politician in the U.S. State of Ohio who first served in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1826, was the third Ohio Secretary of State, and was a State Senator as late as 1884, 57 years after he first served in the Statehouse.-Biography:Moses H. Kirby was born in Halifax...	Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
1835–1836	Benjamin B. Hinkson	Democratic
1836–1840	Carter B. Harlan	Democratic		died
1840–1841	William Trevitt William Trevitt William Trevitt was a doctor, politician, diplomat, and newspaper publisher in 19th century Ohio. He served two times as Ohio Secretary of State, three years in the Ohio House of Representatives, was a surgeon in the Mexican-American War, and was a diplomat in South America.-Biography:William...	Democratic
1841–1844	John Sloane John Sloane John Sloane was a U.S. Representative from Ohio and later the Treasurer of the United States.Born in York, Pennsylvania, Sloane moved to Ohio in early youth.He completed preparatory studies....	Whig
1844–1850	Samuel Galloway Samuel Galloway Samuel Galloway was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Galloway attended local public schools. He moved to Ohio and settled in Highland County in 1830. He graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1833. Galloway then attended Princeton Theological Seminary...	Whig
1850–1852	Henry W. King Henry W. King Henry W. King was a Free Soil politician in the U. S. State of Ohio who served as Ohio Secretary of State 1850-1852.-Biography:...	Free Soil Free Soil Party The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections, and in some state elections. It was a third party and a single-issue party that largely appealed to and drew its greatest strength from New York State. The party leadership...
1852–1856	William Trevitt (2nd)	Democratic
1856–1858	James H. Baker James H. Baker James H. Baker was a Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State from 1856-1858, Minnesota Secretary of State, 1860-1862, and served in the American Civil War....	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
1858–1862	Addison P. Russell	Republican
1862	Benjamin R. Cowen Benjamin R. Cowen Benjamin Rush Cowen was Union Army general and a Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State....	Republican		resigned
1862–1863	Wilson S. Kennon Wilson S. Kennon Wilson Shannon Kennon was a Republican politician who was in the Ohio House of Representatives and was appointed Ohio Secretary of State from 1862-1863....	Republican
1863–1865	William W. Armstrong William W. Armstrong (journalist) William Wallace Armstrong was an American journalist and politician born in Columbiana County, Ohio. He served as a Democratic Ohio Secretary of State from 1863-1865 and was later publisher of the The Plain Dealer and postmaster of Cleveland.-Biography:William W...	Democratic
1865–1868	William Henry Smith William Henry Smith (American politician) William Henry Smith was a newspaper editor, Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State 1865-1868, consolidated and managed the Associated Press, and was a compiler and editor of several historic works....	Republican		resigned
1868–1869	John Russell John Russell (Ohio politician) John Russell was a Republican politician who was appointed Ohio Secretary of State from 1868-1869.John Russell was from Champaign County, Ohio. He was chief clerk in the office of Ohio Secretary of State William Henry Smith. Smith resigned the office January 14, 1868. John Russell was appointed by...	Republican
1869–1873	Isaac R. Sherwood Isaac R. Sherwood Isaac Ruth Sherwood was an American politician and newspaper editor from Toledo, Ohio, as well as an officer in the Union army during the Civil War. He served nine terms in the United States Congress, and was a noted pacifist during World War I.-Early life and career:Sherwood was born in...	Republican
1873–1875	Allen T. Wikoff Allen T. Wikoff Allen Trimble Wikoff was a Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State from 1873-1875.Allen Trimble Wikoff was born November 15, 1825 on an Adams County, Ohio farm. In 1862, during the American Civil War, he enlisted as a Lieutenant in the Ninety-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was...	Republican
1875–1877	William Bell, Jr. William Bell, Jr. thumb|right|circa 1900|250pxWilliam Bell, Jr. was a Democratic politician in the U. S. State of Ohio who held many local offices, served in the Ohio House of Representatives, and was Ohio Secretary of State 1875-1877....	Democratic
1877–1881	Milton Barnes Milton Barnes (politician) right|250pxMilton Barnes was a Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State from 1877-1881.Milton Barnes was born April 26, 1830 in Barnesville Belmont County, Ohio. He attended country schools and at eighteen became a teacher, and at nineteen attended Allegany College at Meadville,...	Republican
1881–1883	Charles Townsend Charles Townsend (Ohio politician) Charles Townsend was a Republican politician in the Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Senate, and was Ohio Secretary of State from 1881 to 1883.-Biography:...	Republican
1883–1885	James W. Newman James W. Newman James W. Newman was a Democratic politician in the Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Senate, and was Ohio Secretary of State from 1883 to 1885.-Biography:...	Democratic
1885–1889	James Sidney Robinson	Republican
1889–1891	Daniel J. Ryan Daniel J. Ryan Daniel Joseph Ryan was a Republican politician in the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Secretary of State from 1889-1892. He was later an author....	Republican		resigned
1891–1893	Christian L. Poorman Christian L. Poorman right|250pxChristian L. Poorman was a United States politician in the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Secretary of State from 1892-1893. He was also a publisher, manufacturer and inventor.-Biography:...	Republican
1893–1897	Samuel M. Taylor Samuel McIntire Taylor Samuel McIntire Taylor was a Republican politician in the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Secretary of State from 1893-1897.Samuel Taylor was born July 24, 1856 in Champaign County, Ohio. He attended country schools and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and the Cincinnati Law School,...	Republican
1897–1901	Charles Kinney Charles Kinney Charles Kinney was a Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State from 1897-1901.Charles Kinney was born July 7, 1850 in Springville, Kentucky. When his father died in 1861, he moved to Columbus, Indiana, where he stayed until 1872. He graduated from high school there in 1866. He practiced...	Republican
1901–1907	Lewis C. Laylin Lewis C. Laylin Lewis Cass Laylin was a Republican politician who was in the Ohio House of Representatives, and was Ohio Secretary of State from 1901-1907.Lewis Laylin was born September 28, 1848 in Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio. He graduated from Norwalk High School in 1867. In 1869, he was elected superintendent...	Republican
1907–1911	Carmi Thompson Carmi Thompson Carmi Alderman Thompson was a Republican politician in the U. S. State of Ohio who was Speaker of the Ohio House and Ohio Secretary of State from 1907-1911. He also fought in the Spanish American War.-Biography:...	Republican
1911–1915	Charles H. Graves Charles H. Graves (Ohio) thumb|right|circa 1912Charles H. Graves was a Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Ohio who was Ohio Secretary of State 1911–1915.-Biography:...	Democratic
1915–1917	Charles Quinn Hildebrant	Republican
1917–1919	William D. Fulton William D. Fulton right|250pxWilliam Duane Fulton was a Democratic politician in the U. S. State of Ohio who served in the Ohio House of Representatives and was Ohio Secretary of State 1917-1919.-Biography:...	Democratic
1919–1923	Harvey C. Smith Harvey C. Smith right|250pxHarvey C. Smith was a Republican politician in the U. S. State of Ohio who served as Ohio Secretary of State 1919-1923.-Biography:...	Republican
1923–1927	Thad H. Brown Thad H. Brown Thaddeus Harold Brown was a Republican lawyer and politician from the U.S. State of Ohio. After serving in the United States Army during World War I, he was elected Ohio Secretary of State 1923-1927, and was a commissioner of the Federal Radio Commission and then the Federal Communications...	Republican
1927–1933	Clarence J. Brown Sr. Clarence J. Brown Clarence J. Brown, Sr. was an American newspaper publisher who represented Ohio as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1965.-Life and career:...	Republican
1933-1936	George S. Myers George S. Myers (judge) George S. Myers was a Democratic lawyer from Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States, who served in all three branches of the Ohio state government. He served two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, two terms as Ohio Secretary of State, and finished his life as a judge on the Ohio Supreme...	Democratic
1936–1939	William J. Kennedy	Democratic
1939–1940	Earl Griffith Earl Griffith Harry Earl Griffith was a newspaper publisher who served as the Secretary of the State of Ohio from 1939-1940.Griffith was born in Centerburg, Ohio in Knox county. He was the son of Nellie Myrtle and Harry Saiger Griffith. He attended Mount Gilead public schools...	Republican		died
1940–1941	George M. Neffiner	Republican
1941–1943	John E. Sweeney	Democratic
1943–1949	Edward J. Hummel	Republican
1949–1951	Donald K. Zoller	Republican
1951–1979	Ted W. Brown Ted W. Brown Ted W. Brown was an American politician of the Ohio Republican party and long-time Ohio Secretary of State.First elected in 1950, he was re-elected eight times. In 1970, Brown defeated Ohio Democrat John F. Kennedy. In 1974, Brown won re-election by defeating Democrat Tony P. Hall. In 1978, Brown...	Republican
1979–1983	Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. Anthony Joseph "Tony" Celebrezze Jr. was an American politician of the Democratic party, who served as Ohio Attorney General, Ohio Secretary of State and an Ohio State Senator. He was the son of Anthony J. Celebrezze Sr....	Democratic
1983–1991	Sherrod Brown Sherrod Brown Sherrod Campbell Brown is the senior United States Senator from Ohio and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the U.S. Senate, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 13th congressional district from 1993 to 2007...	Democratic
1991–1999	Robert A. Taft II Bob Taft Robert Alphonso "Bob" Taft II is an Ohio Republican Party politician. He was elected to two terms of office as the 67th Governor of the U.S. state of Ohio between 1999-2007. After leaving office, Taft started working for the University of Dayton beginning August 15, 2007.-Personal background:Taft...	Republican
1999–2007	J. Kenneth Blackwell Ken Blackwell John Kenneth Blackwell is an American politician and activist who served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1979 to 1980 and Ohio Secretary of State from 1999 to 2007. A Republican, he was the first African-American to be the candidate for governor of a major party in Ohio. In 2006, Blackwell...	Republican
2007—2011	Jennifer L. Brunner Jennifer Brunner Jennifer Lee Brunner is an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the Ohio Secretary of State. Brunner was the first woman to serve in this capacity. She took office after sixteen years of Republican control, which included two four-year terms by her predecessor J. Kenneth...	Democratic
2011—	Jon A. Husted Jon Husted Jon A. Husted is an American politician of the Republican Party who currently serves as Ohio Secretary of State. Previously, he was a member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 6th district . He also previously served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009 and Speaker...	Republican

External links

• Ohio Secretary of State