Rep. Alisa Shepherd pushes to create an elected secretary of state, citing HB 529 and HJR 25

Rep. Alisa Shepherd, R., told attendees at a Provo town hall that she is campaigning to create an independently elected secretary of state and described the bills she carried to start that process, House Bill 529 and House Joint Resolution 25.

Shepherd said the proposal would transfer many election duties now handled by the lieutenant governor to a separately elected office and noted the measures had cleared committee and passed the House, receiving "57 votes out of 75," which she presented as evidence of legislative support.

The proposal, Shepherd said, is intended to address an "inherent conflict of interest" that arises when a joint ticket pairs the governor and lieutenant governor with election oversight. "What I'm looking for is an independently elected, directly accountable elected official," she said, arguing that separating duties would increase public accountability and reduce political friction.

Shepherd outlined the specific functions she would move into the new office: supervision of state elections and certification of results; oversight of voting equipment and ballot uniformity; maintenance of registered political party lists; and campaign finance reporting. She also described procedural safeguards: if the secretary of state is conflicted in a particular contest, she said the statute would transfer oversight to the lieutenant governor, and if the lieutenant governor were also conflicted the matter would go to the board of canvassers to appoint an impartial overseer.

Shepherd provided cost estimates for implementing the change: roughly $700,000 to place the measure on the ballot (advertising and ballot costs she said could be absorbed by an existing department) and about $325,000 annually to run the office. She said two former state elections directors agreed with the policy approach and that the cost was "minimal" compared with the benefits of separating duties.

Shepherd discussed eligibility and logistics included in her bills: a candidate would need to be 25 years old and a resident for five years preceding the election, aligning the office with other constitutional officers. She also told the audience she expects the measure to be placed on the ballot in November 2028, with a first election in 2030 and a transfer of power in 2029 if voters approve.

Shepherd said the Senate was not yet on board and that she would continue working to build support: "The senate wasn't on board with this yet, so we're gonna keep working on that." She framed the effort as structural rather than personal, saying it was not meant as a referendum on any individual officeholder.

Next steps, according to Shepherd, include continued legislative outreach and efforts to secure the Senate's cooperation so the joint resolution can reach voters.