Elaine Folk Marshall (born November 18, 1945) is an American attorney and politician who has served as the North Carolina Secretary of State since 1997.

Marshall was also the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for the United States Senate seat then held by Republican Richard Burr[1] in the 2010 election.

[6] After graduation, Marshall taught in the public schools of Lenoir County, North Carolina, and then ran a book and gift store.

[9][7] In 1996, she ran for the post of North Carolina Secretary of State against Republican challenger and former stock car racer Richard Petty.

Marshall has been credited with bringing the office into the technological age by introducing e-commerce and providing online registration for lobbyists and businesses.

In 2007, Marshall served as president of the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council, "an organization of public and private sector leaders aimed at identifying best technology practices that make government agencies more efficient and modernize their services".

However, she was defeated in the Democratic primary by Erskine Bowles, who served as White House Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton.

[16] She faced Cal Cunningham, Ken Lewis, and other lesser-known candidates in the May 2010 primary, and won the endorsement of The Charlotte Observer.