The office of the Secretary of State performs a number of important functions:

State Archives
The State Archives Division of the Office of the Secretary of State preserves and keeps accessible state government records deemed by statute, records schedules or archival appraisal to have continuing value. The goal of the Archives is to provide evidence of key government transactions and to document the core functions and activities of government. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition and preservation of state government records generally, and executive, legislative, and election records in particular.

Office of Professional Regulations
Vermont's Office of Professional Regulation protects the public from unethical, incompetent or otherwise unprofessional behavior by licensed practitioners in the professions and occupations that are regulated through the Office. The Office of Professional Regulation licenses, certifies, and registers 39 occupations and professions. The office is also charged with professional discipline.

Corporations
Corporations division is responsible for the registration of business entities -from the small proprietorship (trade name) to the incorporation process. It also is the filing repository for Uniform Commercial Code Filings for the state of Vermont.

Elections
The Elections division protects the integrity of campaigning and elections in Vermont. It administers Vermont’s elections, oversees campaign finance reporting and lobbyist disclosure laws and encourages civic participation through programs like Kids Voting Vermont and Honor a Vet with your Vote.

Municipal Programs
The Office Of The Secretary of State works to strengthen Vermont’s municipalities by providing local officials and members of the public with information, assistance, and educational materials related to municipal law and practice and the requirements of Vermont's open government laws.

Administrative Procedures Act -Rule Making
The Secretary of States Office oversees the filing and publication of administrative rules by all state agencies.

Notary
The Secretary of State’s Office oversees notaries public for the State of Vermont.

Safe At Home
The Safe at Home address confidentiality program helps victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking avoid being tracked down by an abuser using state or local public records. Program participants use the program's address in all public records and their mail is forwarded to their confidential location.

Secretary of State
The current Secretary of State is Deb Markowitz.  She is Vermont's 31st Secretary of State and is the first woman to be elected to this office.  She was first elected in 1998 and, as of January 2007, will be serving her fifth term in office.  Click here for more information about Secretary of State Markowitz..