AmericasSecretaries of State: A State-by-State Breakdown[This article was updated 12/7/24]Secretaries of state can't single-handedly change an election's results, but they can undermine and disrupt the process and the system in undemocratic ways. Knowing your secretaries of state can help you better understand your state's election procedures and make you a more informed voter. The secretary of state is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States. Of the 50 current Secretaries of State or Lt. Governors, 28 are Republican, and 22 are Democrats. In the other 12 states, the secretary of state is appointed by either the Governor or the state legislature.