Section 3 of the Organic Act, the document responsible for initial organization of the Wyoming Territory, provided for a Secretary of Wyoming Territory appointed by the President of the United States for a four-year term. The act required the Secretary to perform certain prescribed duties: record and preserve all laws and proceedings of the territorial legislative assembly, and all executive acts and proceedings of the Governor of the territory; serve as Acting Governor in case of vacancy or absence of the Governor; and on or before December 1 of each year transmit copies of the laws and the executive proceedings to certain officials of the federal government.

The Territorial Assembly assigned the Secretary additional responsibilities. The "Session Laws of Wyoming Territory, 1869" called for the Secretary to certify, file and preserve certificates of incorporation, and to attest to and preserve commissions of notaries public. Prior to 1890, the Assembly required the Secretary to supervise elections, act as a member of the territorial canvassing board, publish and distribute territorial laws, endorse and file officials' bonds, account for and settle accounts when the auditor and treasurer left office, certify records copies, and charge fees as assigned by the law.

In 1890, upon acceptance of the Wyoming State Constitution), the office changed to the Secretary of State. The law required the Secretary of State to be a citizen of at least twenty-five years of age and a qualified elector. The secretary served a four year term. The first major change for the Secretary was his responsibility for the Great Seal of the State of Wyoming. Over the last century, the office gained additional responsibilities. The legislature only revoked or reassigned a few of the secretary's assigned duties, most notably lessening the number of boards and commissions on which the Secretary must serve.

The Secretary of State, one of the five state elected officials in Wyoming, administers an office with many duties. Currently, the office oversees elections, lobbyist registrations and filings, ethics filings, securities, notaries public, business entities, trade names, trademarks, agricultural liens, use of the great seal of Wyoming, and state rules and regulations. Six divisions handle the responsibilities of the office today: Corporations, Elections, Notaries, Securities, Technology, and Uniform Commercial Code.