NASHVILLE - Secretaries of State from 40 states convene this week in Nashville for their annual conference where officials will discuss topics including preparing to administer this year's presidential election voting process, protecting small businesses against identity fraud and digital government.
The four-day National Association of Secretaries of State begins Thursday and ends Sunday. Speakers including U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in a news release he is honored to host fellow officials from other states as well as the U.S. territorial island of Guam.
"We strive to exceed the expectations of Tennesseans every day, and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues on ways to make state government more customer-centered and efficient," said Hargett, whose own office has divisions overseeing elections, business filings, charitable activities and gaming regulation, administrative law judges, the state's Library and Archives and, most recently, fantasy sports company regulation.
On Sunday, the association plans to induct its new slate of officers for the 2016-2017 cycle with the installation of Connecticut Secretary of State Denise W. Merrill as the group's new president.
Outgoing NASS president, Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler, said that "thanks to the hard work of the Tennessee Secretary of State's office and Nashville's strong infrastructure, Music City is the ideal place for helping state government officials stay in tune on priority issues for 2016."
