On Monday January 5, many secretaries of state were sworn in across the nation. Two of the new ones made the right to vote the centerpiece of their inaugural speeches.
In Minnesota, Steve Simon “recalled” the congressional consideration of the Voting Rights Act 50 years ago, before he was born. Walter Mondale, who had voted for the VRA along with the entire Minnesota delegation at that time, was in the audience. Mark Ritchie, the secretary of state whom Simon is succeeding, was there as well. You can’t find a secretary of state more devoted to voting rights than Mark Ritchie. He presided over the long and suspenseful recount in the 2008 Senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken, and he did everything he could to administer all elections fairly and in the best interest of the voters. But it appears that Steve Simon plans to give Ritchie a run for his money. He is every bit as committed. When describing how proud he was of the unified Minnesota delegation in its support of the Voting Rights Act, he was choked with emotion.
Fifteen hundred miles away, another voting rights story was being told. Alex Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, was sworn in as secretary of state in Sacramento, Calif., after a distinguished career as a city and state legislator. His personal story is the apotheosis of the American Dream. He too spoke powerfully about the centrality of voting to living the dream. Outlining his top three priorities for the office of the secretary of state under his tenure, he named them in this order:
- Increasing voter participation.
- Making it easier to start a business.
- Ensuring voting rights.
That’s right. Two out of three priorities are about voting—that more people should vote, and that their rights should be protected. Padilla was a major voting rights champion in his years as a state senator. Many of the election administration improvements now enshrined in California law started as bills he authored. It would be no surprise if his political future included a much higher office, but Californians should be very glad he’s taking a turn as Secretary of State.
Despite the increased attention to elections and voting in recent years, the important role of the secretary of state is still under-appreciated. Probably most Americans would be hard pressed to name a single secretary of state—even of their own state—except possibly Kathryn Harris of Florida, and she is now a relic of a bygone age. But whether out in front of the cameras or behind the scenes, the need for smart, principled secretaries of state with no allegiance to partisan political campaigns is greater than ever. The right to vote, to use a cliché, is under attack in almost every state in the union. It needs powerful defenders in high places. The secretary of state is the place to start.
Photo by xaviergardens via Creative Commons license.