What does a state’s secretary of state do? Most run elections, a once-routine job facing increasing scrutiny

Pa. Secretary of State Al Schmidt (Photo provided) by John J. Martin, University of Virginia They may be the most important government officials you can’t name. Their decisions have the potential to alter election results. Scholars have referred to them as the “guardians of the democratic process.” Who are these unknown, but essential, officials? State secretaries of state. You probably know only one person with the title “secretary of state,” Antony Blinken, who conducts foreign policy for the U.S. The others serve their individual states, overseeing numerous crucial state functions. In Michigan, the secretary of state provides motor-vehicle services, such as driver’s licenses and auto registrations. In California, the secretary of state heads the public archives that document California history. And in many states, such as Pennsylvania, the secretary of state manages the process for business registration. Perhaps the most vital role that state secretaries of state play is that of chief election official. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger holds a news conference on Nov. 6, 2020, on the status of ballot counting in the close presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Jessica McGowan/Getty Images In 38 states, the secretary of state supervises elections. This power is...