Secretary of State of Kansas

Main responsibilities

The office typically administers and certifies statewide elections and voter registration, collects campaign finance disclosures, and maintains official state records. Duties commonly attributed to the office include:

• Supervision of election procedures and oversight of voter rolls;
• Receipt and publication of campaign finance reports and lobbying disclosures;
• Registration and filing services for corporations, limited liability companies, and other business entities;
• Custody of official state documents, commissions, and certain public records.

Elections, enforcement and legal powers

One of the most visible responsibilities is managing statewide elections and voter registration. The office establishes procedural guidance for local election officials, certifies results for statewide contests, and may investigate alleged irregularities. In Kansas, the Secretary of State is also involved in enforcing campaign finance laws and has tools to refer or pursue violations; the office can be a point of contact for allegations of voter fraud and for initiating administrative or legal follow-up when warranted.

History, selection and significance

The office has existed since statehood and evolved as election law and business regulation became more complex. The Secretary of State is elected statewide and serves as a public official with both administrative staff and statutory responsibilities. Because the office affects access to the ballot, public records, and corporate filings, it is frequently at the center of policy debates about voting procedures, transparency, and regulatory modernization.

As of January 14, 2019, the office has been held by Scott Schwab. The holder of this office often works with county election officials, the state legislature, and courts to implement and defend state election law and administrative rules.

For more information, official resources and archived reports are published by the Secretary of State's office and related state agencies. These materials provide procedural guidance, campaign disclosure filings, and historical election data for researchers and the public.