[3] The incumbent is Sarah Godlewski, who was appointed by Governor Tony Evers on March 17, 2023, to replace long-time Secretary of State Doug La Follette.

These terms came into effect with an amendment to the constitution in 1979; originally, in all of these events, the secretary of state simply became acting governor.

Following passage of the constitutional amendment however, budgetary control and accounting of state spending was transferred to what is known today as the Department of Administration.

[26] 1995 Wisconsin Act 27 transferred corporations, charities and video franchise regulation, and the secretary of state's duties concerning Uniform Commercial Code, including the recording of tax liens and financing statements, to the Department of Financial Institutions.

[27] 2011 Wisconsin Act 32 transferred the commissioning of notaries public and trademark registration to the Department of Financial Institutions.

[29][30] 2015 Wisconsin Act 55 transferred the secretary of state's municipal boundary review duties to the Department of Administration.

The same act also eliminated the secretary of state's duty to publish slip laws and proposed constitutional amendments.

[32] Former Secretary La Follette advocated for years to return business registration and lobbying regulation back to his office, but the state legislature refused.