Mississippi Secretary of State

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Mississippi Secretary of State

Seal of Mississippi.jpg

General information
Office Type:  Partisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $90,000
2025 FY Budget:  $38,696,763
Term limits:  None
Structure
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:  Mississippi Constitution, Article VI, Section 133
Selection Method:  Elected
Current Officeholder(s)

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael D. Watson Jr.
Republican Party
Assumed office: January 9, 2020

Elections
Next election:  November 2, 2027
Last election:  November 7, 2023
Other Mississippi Executive Offices
Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General •Treasurer •Auditor •Superintendent of Education •Agriculture Commissioner •Insurance Commissioner •Executive Director of Environmental Quality • Executive Director of Employment Security •Public Service Commission •Transportation Commission

TheSecretary of State for Mississippi is one of theconstitutional officers of the U.S. state ofMississippi. The secretary of state is popularly elected every four years, and re-election is not restricted by term limits. The officeholder serves as Chief Elections officer for Mississippi, and is the official "keeper of the Capitol."[1]

Mississippi has a Republicantriplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

Current officeholder

The current Mississippi Secretary of State isMichael D. Watson Jr. (R). Watson assumed office in 2020.

Authority

Article 6,Section 133 of theMississippi Constitution establishes an office ofSecretary of State:[2]

There shall be a secretary of state, who shall be elected as herein provided.

Qualifications

Article 5,Section 133 of theMississippi Constitution goes on to outline the qualifications for this office:[2]

... He shall be at least twenty-five years of age, a citizen of the state five years next preceding the day of his election, and he shall continue in office during the term of four years...
  • at least 25 years old
  • a resident of Mississippi for at least the five years before the day of their election

Elections

Mississippi state government organizational chart

The office of Secretary of State is an elected position, with elections held every four years. Elections are held at the same time and for the same term as the governor.

Term limits

The office of secretary of state is not subject toterm limits.

2027

See also:Mississippi Secretary of State election, 2027

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 2, 2027.

General election for Mississippi Secretary of State

Shuwaski Young is running in the general election for Mississippi Secretary of State on November 2, 2027.

Candidate
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Shuwaski Young (R) Candidate Connection

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Past elections

Expand All
2023
2019
2015
2011
2007
2003


Vacancies

Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Mississippi Secretary of State has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.

Duties

Article 6,Section 133 of theMississippi Constitution details the initial duties of the secretary of state:[2]

... and shall be keeper of the capitol; he shall keep a correct register of all official acts and proceedings of the governor; and shall, when required, lay the same, and all papers, minutes, and vouchers relative thereto, before the legislature, and he shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by law...


The roles and responsibilities of the office of Secretary of State have evolved since the Constitution was written. Click [show] for more information about these expanded roles:

Chief election officer
 
  • training election officials
  • collecting campaign finance and lobbying reports
  • managing the statewide voter registry
  • collecting election returns
  • assisting local election officials in carrying out their election-related responsibilities[3]
State land commissioner
 
  • enforcement of the 16th section public school trust lands and lieu land laws
  • development and implementation of the public trust tidelands management programs
  • sale of lands forfeited to the State for non-payment or ad valorem taxes
  • inventory of State agency lands and services to the public and governmental subdivisions relating to sales, acquisitions, leasing, and the title of the State's real property assets[4]



Point of contact for businesses
 
  • processes the formation of Mississippi corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and other business and nonprofit entities
  • regulates and approves all notaries public
  • registers Mississippi trademark applications
  • files leins under the Uniform Commercial Code[5]



Divisions

As of February 2021, there were nine divisions in the Office of Mississippi's Secretary of State.[6]

Regulation and Enforcement Division

This division is "is tasked with regulating pre-need/perpetual care providers, enforcing scrap metal laws in the State, and overseeing administrative procedures for State government."[6]

Business Services Division

The business services division administers Mississippi's Corporation, Limited Liability Company, and Uniform Commercial Code laws, handles business-related filings, issues notary commissions, registers correspondence schools, and administers trademark, service mark, and nonprofit laws.[6]

Communications and Publications Division

This division "responds to press inquiries, handles all public communications, and receives and issues documents and publications of the State, including the Official and Statistical Register, known as the “Blue Book.” The division also oversees Promote the Vote and other educational outreach programs."[6]

Elections Division

The elections division administers election code and enforces campaign finance and lobbying requirements. The secretary also acts as chief elections officer for Mississippi.[6]

Policy and Research Division

The research and development arm of the agency, which aims to look for new ways to streamline services and develop legislation.[6]

Public Lands Division

This division administers and supervises all state land, including tax-forfeited property.[6]

Securities Division

This division "administers Mississippi’s Uniform Securities Laws and investigates securities fraud."[6]

Charities Division

This division "oversees charities and nonprofits in the State, in addition to investigating potential charities fraud."[6]

Executive Division

The executive division​ of the Office of the Mississippi Secretary of State "includes administrative assistants, legislative liaisons, special counsel, and a communications director" and handles "scheduling, media relations and communications, and serves as senior management of the agency."[6]

State budget

See also:Mississippi state budget and finances

The office of the Secretary of State's budget for fiscal year 2025 was $38,696,763.[7]

Compensation

See also:Compensation of state executive officers

UnderArticle 5, Section 133 of theMississippi Constitution, the secretary of state’s salary is determined by law.[2] Mississippi Code states that no public official can be compensated, directly or indirectly, greater than 150 percent of the salary of the governor.[8]

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[9]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[10]

2021

In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]

2020

In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]

2019

In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]

2018

In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]

2017

In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]

2016

In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[16]

2015

In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[17]

2014

In 2014, the secretary's salary was$90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[18]

2013

In 2013, the secretary's salary was$90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[19]

2012

In 2012, the secretary's salary was$90,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[20]

Historical officeholders

Since 1817, Mississippi has had 34 officeholders. One officeholder, H.C. Carter, served twice, non-consecutively.

Click"show" for a summary of officeholders.[21]

#NameTook officeLeft officeParty
1Daniel Williams18171821
2John A. Grimball18211833
3D. C. Dickson18331835
4Barry W. Benson18351837
5David Dickson18371839
6T. B. Woodward18391841
7L. G. Galloway18411843
8Wilson Hemingway18431847
9Samuel Stamps18471850
10Joseph Bell18501852
11James A. Horne18521854
12William H. Muse18541855
13A. B. Dilworth18551860
14B. R. Webb1860
15C. A. Brougher18601865
16A. Warner18651869
17Henry Musgrove1869
18James Lynch18691872
19Hiram R. Revels18721873
20H. C. Carter1873
21M. M. McLeod1873
22H. C. Carter18731874
23James Hill18741878
24Kinloch Falconer1878
25D. P. Porter1878
26Henry C. Myers18781886
27George M. Govan18861896
28John Logan Power18961901
29Joseph Withers Power19011926
30Walker Wood19261948
31Heber Austin Ladner19481980
32Edwin Lloyd (Ed) Pittman19801984
33Dick Molpus19841996Democratic
34Eric Clark19962008Democratic
35C. Delbert Hosemann, Jr.20082020Republican
36Michael Watson2020presentRepublican

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsMississippi Secretary State. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Contact information

Capitol Address:

Mississippi

Mississippi Secretary of State
401 Mississippi Street
Jackson, MS 39201

Phone: (601) 359-1350

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑Mississippi Secretary of State, "About Us," accessed February 1, 2021
  2. ↑2.02.12.22.3Mississippi Secretary of State, "The Constitution of the State of Mississippi," accessed February 1, 2021
  3. ↑'"Secretary of State, "Elections," accessed February 1, 2021
  4. ↑'"Secretary of State, "Public Lands," accessed February 1, 2021
  5. ↑'"Secretary of State, "Business Services," accessed February 1, 2021
  6. ↑6.06.16.26.36.46.56.66.76.86.9Mississippi Secretary of State, "About Us - Home," accessed February 1, 2021
  7. ↑State of Mississippi, "Budget Bulletin Fiscal Year 2025," accessed January 21, 2025
  8. ↑Mississippi Secretary of State, "Mississippi Law," accessed February 1, 2021
  9. ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
  10. ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  11. ↑Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
  12. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed February 1, 2021
  13. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed February 1, 2021
  14. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed February 1, 2021
  15. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed February 1, 2021
  16. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed February 1, 2021
  17. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed February 1, 2021
  18. ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed February 1, 2021
  19. ↑Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed February 1, 2021
  20. ↑Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed February 1, 2021
  21. ↑Mississippi Secretary of State, History of the MS Secretary of State," accessed February 1, 2021
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