KY Secretary of State Michael Adams Named Co-Chair of National Association of Secretaries of State

By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today

Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams has been selected by his colleagues at the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) to co-chair the Electoral College with Democratic Secretary of State Gregg Amore of Rhode Island, it was announced Friday.

The Bipartisan Elections Committee keeps NASS members informed about policies and practices related to election administration at both the state and federal levels.

“I am honored by this appointment, which demonstrates that state election officials from all political walks of life recognize the caliber of Kentucky elections,” Adams said.

Adams will also serve on the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s Elections Infrastructure-Government Coordinating Council (GCC). The GCC brings together state, local, and federal governments to share information and collaborate on best practices to mitigate and respond to threats to election infrastructure.

Adams previously served as secretary of the NASS board of directors and co-chair of the International Relations and Business Services committees.

Adams, 48, a native of Paducah, is now serving his second term as Kentucky’s secretary of state, a role that includes serving as the state’s chief elections officer.

Adams was inaugurated for his first term in 2020, just before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. He worked with Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to use emergency powers to hold safe and secure elections that became a model for other states. After expanding voter access while tightening election integrity, Adams presented the state legislature in 2021 with the most ambitious election reform plan since 1891, which passed both chambers with near-unanimous support.