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California Secretary of State
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The Secretary of State’s office is comprised of nearly 500 people who are dedicated to making government more transparent and accessible in the areas of elections, business, political campaigning, legislative advocacy, and historical treasures.
The Secretary of State's responsibilities include:
- Serving as the state's Chief Elections Officer
- Implementing electronic filing and Internet disclosure of campaign and lobbyist financial information
- Chartering corporations
- Maintaining business filings
- Commissioning notaries public
- Operating the Safe At Home program
- Maintaining the Domestic Partners and Advanced Health Care Directives Registries
- Safeguarding the State Archives
- Serving as a trustee of the California Museum for History, Women & the Arts
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Secretary of State Programs & Services
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Archives and the California Museum for History, Women & the Arts
The Secretary of State is responsible for safeguarding California’s history in the State Archives. The Archives staff collect, organize and preserve the state’s permanent government records and other historical materials such as maps, architectural drawings, photographs, video and audio tapes, and artifacts. Dedicated to telling the rich history of California’s unique influence on the world of technology, government, arts, sports and culture, the California Museum houses two stories of exhibit space full of fascinating objects and interactive displays. Explore California’s history at http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/archives.htm.
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Business Programs
The largest portion of the Secretary of State’s office, the Business
Programs Division is the first stop for anyone wanting to do business in California. The California Business Portal provides online resources and services to businesses, easily connecting people with electronic versions of important documents and handbooks, searchable lists of registered businesses, a step-by-step guide to starting a business, and assistance for international businesses wanting to operate in California. For a wide range of consumer and business services, visit
http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/business.htm.
Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) Registry maintains AHCDs, which allow a person to indicate to their loved ones and medical providers their medical treatment preferences if they cannot speak or make decisions for themselves. The AHCD may also designate someone else to make decisions regarding medical treatment. AHCDs and related information can be provided upon request to the registrant’s health care provider, public guardian or legal representative.
The Business Entities Section processes, files and maintains records related to corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and other business entities that wish to do business in California.
The Domestic Partners Registry registers same-sex couples regardless of the age of the partners, and opposite-sex couples in which one partner is at least 62 years old, as domestic partners in California when they file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership.
The Notary Public and Special Filings Section appoints and commissions eligible notaries public. A notary public is a public official who performs valuable services to the legal, business, financial and real estate communities by certifying or witnessing signatures on official documents. Special Filings include trademarks and service marks as well as bonds that certain business entities (including immigration consultants) are required to file, joint power agreements, city and county charters and claims for successor-in-interest.
The Uniform Commercial Code Section files financing documents that provide potential secured creditors notice of possible interests in personal property of a debtor. Lien notices are also filed, helping establish priority should a debtor default or file for bankruptcy protection.
The Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund protects consumers and provides restitution to victims who are unable to collect on a corporate fraud judgment.
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Elections
The Elections Division oversees all federal and state elections within California. In every statewide election, California prepares voter information pamphlets in seven languages — English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog and Vietnamese — for nearly 16 million registered voters. As the chief elections officer for the largest state in the nation, the California Secretary of State tests and certifies all voting equipment for security, accuracy, reliability and accessibility in order to ensure that every vote is counted as it was cast. The Secretary also ensures election laws and campaign disclosure requirements are enforced, maintains a statewide database of all registered voters, certifies the official lists of candidates for elections, tracks and certifies ballot initiatives, complies election returns and certifies election results, educates California citizens about their voting rights, and promotes voter registration and participation. Learn more about the rights and tools of California’s democracy at http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm.
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Political Reform
The Political Reform Division helps make the political process more transparent by helping people monitor financing of state political campaigns and lobbying activities. Most candidates for state office, ballot measure committees and anyone who lobbies the State Legislature and state agencies must file detailed financial disclosure statements with the Secretary of State. That information is available online through the Campaign Automated Lobbyist and Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Search System (CAL-ACCESS) at http://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/.
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Safe at Home
Safe at Home is a confidential address program that protects the identities of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking victims and employees, volunteers and patients of reproductive health care clinics. The Secretary of State’s office receives and forwards the first-class mail of participants, confidentially registers eligible participants to vote, and works with government agencies and private companies to provide additional identity protection. For more information, visit http://www.sos.ca.gov/safeathome/.
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California Secretary of State Directory
Administration
Reception
(916) 653-7244
Legislative and Constituent Services
(916) 653-6774
Communications (Media Inquiries)
(916) 653-6575
Archives and California Museum for History, Women & the Arts
Archives
(916) 653-7715
Archives Reference Desk
(916) 653-2246
California Museum
(916) 653-7524
Business Programs
Advance Health Care Directive Registry
(916) 653-3984
Business Entities
(916) 657-5448
Domestic Partners Registry
(916) 653-3984
Notary Public and Special Filings
(916) 653-3595
Uniform Commercial Code
(916) 653-3516
Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund
(916) 651-9070
Safe at Home
(877) 322-5227
Elections
General Information
(916) 657-2166
Voter Registration Hotline
(800) 345-VOTE
Elections Fraud and Investigations
(916) 657-2166
Political Reform
(916) 653-6224
Sacramento Office
1500 11th Street, Sacramento 95814
www.sos.ca.gov
Regional Offices
Fresno
1315 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 203
Fresno 93721-1729
(559) 445-6900
Los Angeles
300 South Spring Street
Room 12513, South Tower
Los Angeles 90013-1233
(213) 897-3062
San Diego
1350 Front Street, Suite 2060
San Diego 92101-3609
(619) 525-4113
San Francisco
455 Golden Gate, Suite 14500
San Francisco 94102-7007
(415) 557-8000
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Copyright ©2000 California Secretary of State. Privacy Statement
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