Replacing switches

[MarkHaysHarris777]

I am planning to have a shift register control the power and reset buttons.

Do I need a transitor or can I put the output in directly?

The premise of your question makes no sense;  please elaborate and explain how you think a shift register might control power and reset buttons .

What I am trying to do is electronic control of the power and reset functions.

IE the actual button will be removed and replaced in some way with the  output from the IC

I was questioning the shift register, mostly.

Two things you will want to do;  check the datasheet schematic(s) and check the function of the power button and reset button functions;  they may surprise you !

A PN2222 or 2N2222 general purpose NPN transistor ( or similar ) can be used in place of the switch , with a gpio pin from another MCU or SBC via 1K resistor to the base of the transistor will work just fine for an electronic switch.  Also a 4N35 opto-coupler could be used.

The switch is providing a ground shot;  the transistor can do the same thing.

The reset is a hard reset !   not a good thing to do unless you ( or the watch dog ) knows that the system is not functioning;  you should not press the reset of a running system !

The power button has both a long and a short press function;  and a very long press function.  They do not work the way most people expect them to.  Do some research.