State secretaries of state : guardians of the democratic process / Jocelyn F. Benson.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The preeminent role of the state Secretary of State in election administration : profile, New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner -- The secretary and the political party : profile, Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel -- The secretary and congressional oversight : profile, Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh -- The secretary as voter advocate : profile, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie -- The secretary as voter educator : profile, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson -- The secretary as election reformer : profile, Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro -- The secretary and voter accessibility : profile, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen -- The secretary as voter protector : profile, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner -- The secretary as enforcer : profile, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita -- The secretary as certifier : profile, Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Through legal analysis, case studies, empirical evidence, and interviews with current officeholders, State Secretaries of State reveals how a state's chief election administrator plays a pivotal role in administering elections and ensuring that accuracy and access are promoted, enforced, and attained. The book provides the first in-depth study of the history of the position and the Secretary's role in registering voters, enforcing voting laws, overseeing elections, and certifying results.