Rhode Island Secretary Of State

	Rhode Island Secretary of State
	; ; ;
	General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$137,510
2025 FY Budget:	$15,372,795
Term limits:	Two consecutive terms
	Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Rhode Island general laws, Section 42-8-1
Selection Method:	Elected
	Current Officeholder
	Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore; Democratic Party; Assumed office: January 3, 2023
	Elections
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Last election:	November 8, 2022
	Other Rhode Island Executive Offices
	Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Secretary of State for Rhode Island is an elected official for the state of Rhode Island. The secretary of state is the keeper of the Seal of the State of Rhode Island, and the office is the repository for official state documents.^[1]

Rhode Island has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

Current officeholder[edit]

The current Rhode Island Secretary of State is Gregg Amore (D). Amore assumed office in 2023.

Authority[edit]

The department of state, with the secretary of state as its head, is established in the Rhode Island Constitution and Section 42-8-1 of the Rhode Island general laws.

§ 42-8-1:

There shall be a department of state. The head of the department of state shall be the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall perform the duties required by this chapter and by chapter 2 of title 6; chapters 1 to 4, inclusive, of title 7; chapters 16, 19, and 20 of title 17; chapters 3 and 10 of title 22; chapters 1 to 3 and 4, of title 29; chapter 1 of title 36; chapter 7 of title 37; chapter 30 of this title; chapters 1 and 2 of title 43; chapter 6 of title 44; and any and all other provisions of the general laws and public laws insofar as such powers and duties relate to the secretary of state and the department of state.^[2]

Qualifications[edit]

According to the Rhode Island Secretary of State's website, "In order to serve as Secretary of State, you must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter, a resident of Rhode Island for at least 30 days and a U.S. citizen."^[1]

Vacancies[edit]

Article IV, Section 4 of the state constitution addresses vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office of secretary of state, attorney general, or treasurer, the Rhode Island General Assembly elects a successor to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. If the vacancy occurs when the general assembly is not in session, the governor appoints a person to fill the vacancy to serve until a successor is elected by the general assembly.^[3]

Elections[edit]

Article IV, Section 1 of the state constitution specifies that the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer are to be elected every four years during the November general election. The offices are elected in mid-term election years (2018, 2022, 2026, et cetera).^[3]

Term limits[edit]

Term limits for the secretary of state are defined in Article IV, Section 1 of the Rhode Island Constitution, which prohibits a secretary of state from serving more than two consecutive terms.

Rhode Island Constitution, Article IV, Section 1 (partial):

The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney-general, general treasurer shall be elected on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, quadrennially commencing A.D. 1994, and every four (4) years thereafter, and shall severally hold their offices, subject to recall as provided herein, for four (4) years from the first Tuesday of January next succeeding their election and until their successors are elected and qualified. No person shall serve consecutively in the same general office for more than two (2) full terms, excluding any partial term of less than two (2) years previously served...

2022[edit]

See also: Rhode Island Secretary of State election, 2022

General election

General election for Rhode Island Secretary of State

Gregg Amore defeated Pat Cortellessa in the general election for Rhode Island Secretary of State on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Gregg Amore (D)	59.5	208,981
	Pat Cortellessa (R)	40.3	141,457
	Other/Write-in votes	0.2	527

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 350,965
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Anne Armstrong (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State

Gregg Amore defeated Stephanie Beauté in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State on September 13, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Gregg Amore	64.3	65,276
	Stephanie Beauté	35.7	36,283

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 101,559
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Anthony Tamba (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State

Pat Cortellessa advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State on September 13, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pat Cortellessa	100.0	18,306

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,306
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018[edit]

See also: Rhode Island Secretary of State election, 2018

General election

General election for Rhode Island Secretary of State

Incumbent Nellie Gorbea defeated Pat Cortellessa in the general election for Rhode Island Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Nellie Gorbea (D)	67.4	247,276
	Pat Cortellessa (R)	32.5	119,293
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	540

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 367,109 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State

Incumbent Nellie Gorbea advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State on September 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nellie Gorbea	100.0	95,644

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 95,644
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State

Pat Cortellessa advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island Secretary of State on September 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pat Cortellessa	100.0	25,081

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 25,081
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Full history[edit]

2014[edit]

See also: Rhode Island secretary of state election, 2014

Democrat Nellie Gorbea won the election on November 4, 2014.

Secretary of State of Rhode Island, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Nellie Gorbea	60.5%	186,899
	Republican	John Carlevale	39.3%	121,466
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.2%	770
Total Votes				309,135
Election results via State of Rhode Island

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Rhode Island Secretary of State, click [show] to expand the section.

2010

On November 2, 2010, A. Ralph Mollis won re-election to the office of Rhode Island Secretary of State. He defeated Catherine Terry Taylor (R) in the general election.

Rhode Island Secretary of State, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	A. Ralph Mollis Incumbent	50.6%	166,140
	Republican	Catherine Terry Taylor	49.4%	162,283
Total Votes				328,423
Election results via Rhode Island Board of Elections.

2006

On November 7, 2006, A. Ralph Mollis won election to the office of Rhode Island Secretary of State. He defeated Sue A. Stenhouse (R) in the general election.

Rhode Island Secretary of State, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	A. Ralph Mollis	53.6%	200,058
	Republican	Sue A. Stenhouse	46.4%	173,490
Total Votes				373,548
Election results via Rhode Island Board of Elections.

2002

On November 5, 2002, Matthew A. Brown won election to the office of Rhode Island Secretary of State. He defeated Christopher W. Stanley (R) in the general election.

Rhode Island Secretary of State, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Matthew A. Brown	68.7%	216,782
	Republican	Christopher W. Stanley	31.3%	98,780
Total Votes				315,562
Election results via Rhode Island Board of Elections.

Duties[edit]

The duties of Rhode Island's secretary of state include:^[2]

Keeping the state's seal.
Conducting state elections.
Keeping and preserving the records of all official acts and proceedings of the General Assembly.

Divisions[edit]

The Department of State is composed of five separate divisions:

The Elections and Civics Division prepares ballots, ensures accessibility of voting facilities, qualifies and certifies the names of all federal and state candidates for ballot placement. Additionally, the division maintains a database of registered voters, ensures compliance with the Help America Vote Act, and explains elections proceedures. Administration of elections and compliance with campaign finance laws is the responsibility of a separate state agency, the Rhode Island Board of Elections.^[4]
The Business Services Division is responsible for a wide range of business-related legal documents and filings, including formation of corporations and other business entities, liens and security interests under the Uniform Commercial Code, registration of notaries public, trademarks and service marks, registration of businesses conducting games of chance, and various other documents required by state law.^[5]
The Public Information Division accepts many filings required to be made with secretary of state, including Lobbying Disclosures, Public Meeting Notices and Minutes, Disclosure of State Government Consultants and Appointments to Boards and Commissions, and other government information. This division also publishes the Rhode Island Government Owner's Manual, which gives a broad overview of various government offices and officials.^[6]
The Rhode Island State Archives is the official custodian and trustee for Rhode Island's public records dating back to 1638 and makes them available to the public.^[7]
The Rhode Island State Library was created in 1852 by a General Assembly resolution as part of the office of the secretary of state. Its purpose is to assist members of the Rhode Island General Assembly with research on the preparation of proposed legislation. The State Library also includes a law library.^[8]

State budget[edit]

See also: Rhode Island state budget and finances

The budget for the Secretary of State's office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $15,372,795.^[9]

Compensation[edit]

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

See statutes: Title 36, Chapter 6, Section 2 of the Rhode Island General Laws

The secretary of state's salary is fixed by law, in accordance with Title 36, Chapter 6, Section 2 of the Rhode Island General Laws (§ 36-6-2).^[10]