Secretary of State
The current secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson, is the chief motor vehicle administrator and chief election officer for the state’s 10 million residents and is a voting member of several state boards and commissions, including the State Administrative Board, Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commission and Michigan Truck Safety Commission. In the event of concurrent vacancies in the office of governor and lieutenant governor, including absence from the state, the secretary of state serves as governor.
About Us
Michigan is one of two states where the secretary of state has authority over election processes as well as vehicle registrations and the licensing of drivers. Other duties include administration of driver education and traffic safety programs; document certification as Keeper of the Great Seal, which provides the highest level of document certification in the state; and management of the notary public program. The department also maintains the state’s official repository of records, including state and local government records, state statutes and commercial financing statements. Additionally, the department administers the state’s organ donor registry.
