Overview

The Secretary of State is an administrative position elected by the voters of the state for a four-year term. Wis. Const. Art. VI, § 1. The Secretary of State is second in the line of succession to the office of Governor, behind the Lieutenant Governor. Wis. Const. Art. V, § 8. Wisconsin is one of a handful of states in which the Secretary of State has almost no election-related duties. Instead, the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission is the primary entity that oversees statewide election administration. “WEC.” The Secretary of State’s one election-related duty is to sign certificates of election for U.S. Senators after the election results are finalized. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.70(5)(a).

Wisconsin’s current Secretary of State is Sarah Godlewski, a Democrat, who was appointed by Governor Tony Evers on March 17, 2023, to fill a vacancy. The next election for Secretary of State in Wisconsin will be held in 2026.

Election-Related Duties

The key duties of the Secretary of State are:

1. Signing certificates of election for U.S. Senators after the election results are finalized. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 7.70(5)(a).

Selection and Vacancy Information

• **Elected: ****The Secretary of State is elected every four years by the qualified electors of the state. Wis. Const. Art. VI, § 1.
• Tiebreaking: In the event of a tie, the winner is chosen by lot in the presence of the Board of Canvassers responsible for determining the outcome of the election. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 5.01(4)(a). The candidates may draw for themselves, or the Board of Canvassers will appoint a person to draw. Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 5.01(4)(c), (d).
• Term of Office: The Secretary of State is elected to a four-year term of office. Wis. Const. Art. VI, § 1.
• Next Election: The next general election for Secretary of State in Wisconsin will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
• Qualifications: The state constitution does not outline qualifications for the Secretary of State. However, the Secretary of State is second in the line of succession for Governor, and in order to hold the office of Governor, a person must be a citizen of the U.S. and qualified to vote in the state of Wisconsin. Wis. Const. Art. V, § 2.
• Vacancy: **In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Secretary of State, the Governor may appoint a replacement to serve the balance of the term or until a successor is elected. Wis. Stat. Ann. § 17.19(4).