Secretary of State's Duties

Elections

The secretary of state serves as Nebraska’s chief election officer. Working with election officials in the state’s 93 counties, the Elections Division oversees election law, the conduct of elections in the state, election tabulation equipment and the state voter registration system. The division accepts candidate filings and tabulates results for statewide, legislative, judicial retention and certain district elections. The division oversees filings for statewide initiative and referendum petitions.

Business Services

The Business Services Division provides several important functions for the business community. Registrations are recorded for corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, trade names and trademarks. The division handles Uniform Commercial Code and other security interest records. The division regulates notary public commissions and handles apostilles and authentications (documents going to other countries).
 
Licensing

The Licensing Division protects the public interest by licensing or registering several occupations. The division oversees collection agencies, debt management agencies, credit services organizations, private detectives, truth and deception examiners, athlete agents and nonrecourse civil litigation funding companies.

Rules and Regulations

The Secretary of State's Office maintains the Nebraska Administrative Code. The office is responsible for the filing and certification of state agency rules and regulations, and making them available for public inspection.

Records Management

The secretary of state serves as the state records administrator. The Records Management Division assists state and local government agencies in managing the creation, use, storage and disposal of records in an efficient and economical manner. The division provides services and does consulting for government agencies. Services include the storage of state records and the conversion of records into different formats for storage. The division facilitates and publishes the creation and update of records retention and disposition schedules for all Nebraska government entities.

International Relations

The secretary of state serves as Nebraska’s chief protocol officer for international relations. In that role, the secretary serves as a goodwill ambassador and promotes commerce, educational studies and cultural exchanges between Nebraska and the world. The office’s goal is to develop contacts and expertise to connect Nebraska with the international community.

Youth Services

The Secretary of State’s Office conducts programs and activities to promote civics education for Nebraska’s youth. The office’s goal is to encourage youths to become good citizens and lifelong voters.

Keeper of the Great Seal

The secretary of state is the official keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska, affixing it to official government documents to validate them.

Other Duties

As provided by law, the secretary of state serves on the following state boards:

• Real Estate Commission chair. The commission regulates the real estate industry and licenses real estate brokers and agents.

• Records Board chair. The board oversees electronic access to state government information and approves online services. 

• Collection Agency Licensing Board chair. The board is responsible for licensing collection agencies and overseeing their financial stability.

• Pardons Board secretary. The board considers applications for pardons of criminal convictions and commutations of sentences.

• Board of State Canvassers secretary. The board certifies results following each statewide election and orders recounts as needed.

• Accountability and Disclosure Commission member. The commission administers and enforces state laws regarding ethics, campaign finance and lobbying.