Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut’s 75th Secretary of the State, was recently elected by her colleagues to serve as Secretary of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Executive Board. Founded in 1904, NASS is the nation’s oldest nonpartisan professional organization for public officials.
“I am honored to have the support and trust of my peers to help advance thought leadership around elections, business services, and the other issues that impact our offices,” said Secretary Thomas. “Opportunities to collaborate across party lines are essential in maintaining a civil society and I look forward to working with NASS and my colleagues.”
Thomas has been Secretary of the State since January 2023. As an active NASS member, she serves on the Elections, Cybersecurity, and Business Services Committees. She is working to establish an Outreach Committee with other Secretaries to ensure state government effectively reaches communities, informing them of the resources available to them.
Since taking office, Secretary Thomas has led the implementation of significant election reforms in the state, including the roll-out of early voting. In September 2023, she secured a historic investment of $25 million to replace the state’s aging tabulators, marking Connecticut’s first voting machine upgrade since 2006. During her term, Secretary Thomas will also institute the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of Connecticut, automatic voter registration at several Connecticut agencies, and she will direct the deployment of a new centralized voter registration system.
Additionally, the following members were also sworn in to serve on the NASS Executive Board:
- President: Hon. Steve Simon, Minnesota (D)
- Immediate Past President: Hon. Scott Schwab, Kansas (R)
- President-elect: Hon. Michael Watson, Mississippi (R)
- Treasurer: Hon. Steve Hobbs, Washington (D)
- Eastern Region Vice-President: Hon. Shenna Bellows, Maine (D)
- Southern Region Vice-President: Hon. Nancy Landry, Louisiana (R)
- Midwestern Region Vice-President: Hon. Robert Evnen, Nebraska (R)
- Western Region Vice-President: Hon. Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico (D)
- Member-at-Large (NPA Section): Hon. Michael Howe, North Dakota (R)
- Member-at-Large (ACR Section): Hon. Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Vermont (D)
The Executive Board is the chief governing body of NASS, and its members serve until the conclusion of the NASS 2025 Summer Conference.
