Background: The Secretary of State (Secretary) is required to perform certain duties as enumerated under statute which include:
- keeping a register of and attesting to the official acts of the Governor;
- affixing the state seal to commissions, pardons, authentications of certificates, and other public instruments to which the signature of the Governor is required;
- recording all articles of incorporation, deeds, or other papers filed with the Office of the Secretary of State (OSOS);
- receiving and filing all official bonds of officers required to be filed with the OSOS;
- receiving and filing receipts for all books distributed by the Assistant Secretary of State (Assistant Secretary);
- certifying the election returns for Constitutional officers and certifying all names of certain other candidates;
- furnishing a certified copy of any part of any law, record, or other instrument filed with the OSOS;
- presenting to the Speaker of the House of Representatives a full account of all purchases made and expenses incurred by the Secretary on account of the state;
- filing an impression of each seal in use by any state officer;
- keeping a record of all fees charged or received by the Secretary;
- establishing a Division of Elections; and
- administering and conducting the Washington State Legacy Project.
The Secretary also has various powers granted by statute such as:
- attesting to the authenticity of the signature of a public official in the state;
- entering into a memorandum of agreement or contract with any agency or private entity to provide services under the various corporation statutes of the state;
- appointing authenticating officers and delegating to those officers the power to sign for the Secretary any document which requires the Secretary's signature as approved by the Secretary; and
- appointing one Assistant Secretary and one Deputy Secretary who has the power to perform any act or duty relating to the OSOS that the Secretary has.