Contact
William M. Gardner, Secretary of State
Robert P. Ambrose, Senior Deputy Secretary of State
David M. Scanlan, Deputy Secretary of State
State House, Room 204
107 North Main Street
Concord, N.H. 03301
Phone: 603-271-3242
Fax: 603-271-6316
TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964
Email: elections@sos.nh.gov
Website: sos.nh.gov
About the Office
The New Hampshire constitution enacted on June 2, 1784, provides for a department of state with a secretary of state elected by the legislature every two years, and a deputy appointed by the secretary. The position of Secretary of State is one of the oldest in the nation, dating to 1680 when New Hampshire was a Royal Province.
The Secretary of State is third in line of succession as Acting Governor following the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House when the Governor is incapacitated or the office becomes vacant.
Among the duties of the office is overseeing all state elections, including creation of official ballots, administering recounts, and certifying the results before the Senate and House of Representatives in the January, following each biennial state election.
The constitution directs the Secretary of State to keep the records of the state, record the proceedings of the Governor and Council, and “attend the Governor and Council, the Senate and Representatives in person, or by Deputy, as they may require.”
The office of Secretary of State includes the following Divisions.
- Administration
- Archives and Records Management
- Corporation and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
- Elections
- Securities Regulation
- Vital Records.
The following boards and commissions are attached to the office for administrative purposes:
The office also administers and processes official applications, mandated filings and records, including but not limited to:
- Apostilles and Certificates
- Athlete Agents
- Bonded Warehouses
- Campaign Finance
- Campaign Financial Reporting System
- Commissioner of Deeds
- Executive Orders
- Executive Branch Ethics Statements (RSA 21: G24)
- Financial Interest Statements (RSA 15-A)
Governor and Executive Council Agendas and Meeting Minutes
- Hawkers and Peddlers, Honorariums and Expenses Reports (RSA 15-B – RSA 14-C)
- Itinerate Vendors, Justices of the Peace
- Lobbyists
- Lobbyist Financial Reports
- Notaries Public
- Petroleum Sales Contracts
- Special Marriage Licenses, including Non-Ordained Clergy, Out-of-state Ordained Clergy.