The secretary of state shall send, by suitable means at as cheap a rate as he can obtain, to the sheriffs of the several counties the books, documents, and papers required to be distributed to the various officers in their respective counties as soon as practicable after he receives the same; and shall likewise send to the various other distributees the books and documents to which they respectively are entitled. The sheriffs and other distributees shall send by mail, postpaid, or deliver to the secretary of state a certificate as evidence of the books, documents, and papers received, which, when received, shall be filed by the secretary of state in his office.