Plaintiffs agree to drop all claims challenging U.S. Congressional, state Senate districts as part of agreement

January 25, 2019 – Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today reached an agreement with the League of Women Voters regarding their claims challenging the constitutionality of the 2011 redistricting of Michigan’s state legislative and U.S. Congressional districts.

As part of the agreement, the plaintiffs agreed to drop all claims challenging the constitutionality of the Michigan state Senate and U.S. Congressional districts, as well as claims against four state House districts. The proposed settlement concludes that 11 of the 110 state House districts were drawn in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The agreement gives the current state Legislature the opportunity to redraw the districts for submission to the court.

“As the state’s chief election officer, I have a responsibility to ensure our elections operate in a manner that is fair, accessible and in compliance with the constitutional mandate of one person, one vote.” Benson said. “I believe today’s settlement strikes a balance between recognizing the unconstitutionality of the 2011 districting maps while reaching a remedy that is limited in scope and impact given the length of time these districts have been in place. Because the Congressional and state Senate maps will not be changed, and the state House map only minimally changed, the remedy we have proposed to the court is one that is likely more limited in scope than that which could have emerged from a trial that the state could likely lose. It strikes an important balance between limiting disruption to the current maps while acknowledging the harm done to voters through attempts to rig the outcomes of elections through partisan gerrymandering.”

Judges Eric Clay, Denise Page Hood and Gordon Quist of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division will rule on the consent decree.

The 11 state House districts that would be redrawn under the agreement are 24th, 32nd, 51st, 55th, 60th, 63rd, 76th, 91st, 92nd, 94th and 95th. The new districts would use the same population data relied upon in the maps drawn in 2011, which remain the most recent complete Census data. They will be in place only for the 2020 elections, after which new districts will be drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission that voters enacted into law via ballot petition in November 2018.

The League of Women Voters sued the state of Michigan on Dec. 22, 2017, challenging the constitutionality of the 2011 redistricting process, saying the districts had been drawn with partisan intent in violation of the Equal Protection Clause and First Amendment of the Constitution. On Jan. 2, Benson, as the new secretary of state, became the named defendant in the lawsuit.

“I am very glad that moving forward we will have in place an independent citizen redistricting commission to draw future Congressional and legislative maps following the 2021 census,” Benson said. “As a longtime advocate of citizen involvement in redistricting as a solution to end efforts to rig districts to encourage particular partisan outcomes, I will now turn to implementing the commission in a way that is transparent, nonpartisan and effectively engages citizens across the state in the important task of drawing legislative districts that comply with state and federal law.”

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today announced several additional members of her team, who will help achieve her goals at the Department of State for the people of Michigan.

Notable among the appointees are Heaster Wheeler, former assistant county executive for Wayne County and executive director of the Detroit branch of the NAACP, to serve as assistant secretary of state; Jonathan Brater, former democracy counsel with New York University’s Brennan Center, to help advise the department’s work to modernize elections; and Winnie Liao, a national technology leader and renowned innovator, to serve as chief operations officer for the department.

“These exceptionally talented individuals bring a wealth of leadership experience to my administration and personal commitments to success,” Benson said. “The staff at the department has been very welcoming and are ready to work together with additional team members to achieve our ambitious goals on behalf of the citizens of Michigan.”

The Michigan Department of State is replacing its decades-old vehicle records system with CARS, a modern computer system to better serve millions of customers. CARS arrives Feb. 19.

CARS will enhance services for Michigan residents by adding new online options, improving existing online and kiosk services, and giving staff in Secretary of State branch offices a more efficient tool to look up vehicle information and process transactions.

During the upgrade, SOS offices, online services and auto business transactions will be taken offline and unavailable from 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, to 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 (Presidents Day weekend). Self-service kiosks will be taken offline in phases beginning Friday, Feb. 8. See the schedule: http://bit.ly/2HXjlRD.

The seven Super Centers usually open Saturday will be closed Saturday, Feb. 16, for the system-wide conversion of CARS. All branches will be closed on Presidents Day (Monday, Feb. 18). For more details, visit www.Michigan.gov/SOS.

64 percent of Michigan adults have joined registry

More than 5 million Michigan residents now have joined the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, making a commitment to give the gift of life, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today.

“Every name is a beacon of hope for the more than 3,200 people in Michigan awaiting a life-changing transplant,” Johnson said. “I want to thank everyone who has taken a moment to make this pledge. However, we will continue to encourage people to sign up on the registry as the need continues to grow.”

“This milestone reflects the generosity of Michigan residents who want to help others by becoming organ, eye and tissue donors,” said Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s federally designated organ and tissue recovery program. “We are proud to collaborate with the Secretary of State and other donation partners who make these life-saving, life-improving gifts possible.”

When Johnson took office in 2011, 27 percent of eligible Michigan residents had signed up. She made expanding the organ donor rolls a priority and directed staff to start asking customers if they wanted to sign up and began promoting organ donor registration throughout her branch offices.

“Eversight is thrilled more than 64 percent of Michigan residents have made the decision to join the donor registry,” said David Bosch, president of Eversight, the state’s cornea and eye tissue recovery program. “We applaud Secretary Johnson and her staff on their admirable work to make this exciting milestone a reality.”

Every donor has the ability to save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve up to 75 more through cornea and tissue donation.

Anyone can join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, regardless of age or medical history. Go to www.Michigan.gov/sos, call 866-500-5801 or visit any Secretary of State office to sign up. About 85 percent of people who sign up do so through Secretary of State offices.

For more information on organ, eye and tissue donation, visit www.giftoflifemichigan.org or www.eversightvision.org. To access some of the Secretary of State’s most popular services, visit www.ExpressSOS.com.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today released a public service announcement calling on motorists to follow Michigan’s “Move Over” law that protects the lives of emergency responders who have stopped their vehicle on a roadway.

“Twenty-four hours each day, emergency personnel are on duty working to protect us from harm,” Johnson said. “We ask motorists to return the favor—and follow the law—by moving over a lane when they see police and fire vehicles, ambulances, tow trucks or other emergency responders stopped on the road or the edge of the road.”

Johnson, Michigan State Police Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue and several emergency responders are featured in the video, which begins with state police footage of a tow truck driver narrowly escaping with his life as a car smashes into his vehicle.

Michigan’s Emergency Vehicle Caution Law, which went into effect in 2001, requires that when drivers see a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck pulled over with its flashing, rotating or oscillating lights on, passing motorists must move over at least one lane or two vehicle widths. If moving over cannot be accomplished, motorists must slow down and pass with caution. Violators face fines or jail.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the No. 1 cause of law enforcement deaths is traffic incidents. According to a report cited by the Pew Center, each year about six to eight fire rescue and emergency medical service personnel are killed in or near moving traffic, as are 10 to 12 police officers. The Emergency Responder Safety Institute estimates that a tow operator in killed every six days in the United States while providing roadside or towing services.

The video can be viewed on YouTube and downloaded online.

Nearly 65 percent of Michigan adults have joined Organ Donor Registry

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson receives award from Gift of Life Michigan CEO Dorrie Dils

The national organ donation advocacy group Donate Life America has awarded Secretary of State Ruth Johnson its DMV Innovation Award for her and her office’s efforts to promote organ donation and encourage people to join the state’s donor registry, she announced today.

Johnson praised and thanked Secretary of State staff today during the announcement at the Flint Area SUPER!Center for their tireless efforts that resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of people on the donor registry. The secretary was joined by Gift of Life Michigan CEO Dorrie Dils; John Gleason, the Genesee County clerk and a donation recipient; and representatives from Eversight, the state’s cornea and eye tissue recovery program.

“I’m so proud of our team and grateful for this honor,” Johnson said. “We’re seeing miracles happen every day with organ, tissue and cornea donation thanks to these great people. It’s been a privilege working with them.”

Johnson made huge changes in the way the Secretary of State’s Office approached organ donation when she took office in 2011. Working with her partners, she created an advisory task force, put organ donor reminders on widely-used forms, enlisted social media and directed employees to ask customers if they wanted to sign up, doubling the percentage of names on the list. About 85 percent of people who sign up do so through the Secretary of State’s Office.

Since that time, the registry has grown from 27 percent of Michigan adults in 2011 to more than 64 percent to date, with the registry now topping 5 million names. The Secretary of State’s Flint Super!Center, host site for today’s event, added more than 49,000 people to the registry during that timeframe, mostly from Oakland and Genesee counties.

Returning riders are encouraged to take a class for safety

Noting their disproportionate involvement in crashes, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today encouraged baby boomers who ride a motorcycle or are thinking about it to take a returning-rider safety course, even if they rode in their younger days.

“Riders in their 50s and 60s who are getting back into motorcycling are strongly encouraged to take one of the rider education refresher courses we offer,” Johnson said. “People joke about never forgetting how to ride a bike, but operating a motorcycle is different. It requires constant practice to develop the judgment and skills necessary to identify and avoid hazardous situations on the road.”

Boomers interested in refreshing their riding skills should look into the department’s Returning Rider Basic Rider Course and the Advanced Rider Course. The department also offers a class for three-wheeled motorcycles, and a Basic Rider Course designed for those who are new to or wish to review the fundamentals of motorcycling.

Johnson noted that male motorcycle riders aged 50-69 were involved in 34.1 percent of all two-vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle and 33.6 percent of all single-vehicle crashes (crashes just involving the motorcyclist). Female riders aged 40-59 are at the greatest risk of being involved in either a multiple vehicle or single vehicle crash.

“Our goal is to keep everyone safe on the road,” she added. “Motorcyclists should take a rider education safety course, always wear the proper gear and make sure they have the motorcycle endorsement before they ride.”

Visit www.michigan.gov/motorcycling for a list of motorcycle safety training programs across the state. To learn more about motorcycling and the Michigan Rider Education Program, go to www.michigan.gov/mi-rep.

More information about motorcycling in Michigan is available on the Motorcycle Fact Sheet.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson has prepared a video with a motorcycle safety message.

New voting machines, voter file ready for use; $11 million will further strengthen elections system

As local clerks finalize ballots for the statewide primary, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today detailed how new voting equipment, $11 million in new federal security grants and the extensive preparations her office has made will better protect Michigan’s elections system for the 2018 election cycle.

“Most importantly, every voter across Michigan still will use a good, old-fashioned paper ballot to mark their choices,” Johnson said three weeks before the August primary ballots will be sent out. “Then they’ll feed the ballot into a new next-generation voting machine designed with security in mind. But buying all new election equipment isn’t all we’ve done to safeguard our election system.”

“We carefully reviewed and improved our systems, and we’ll be putting $11 million of federal security grants toward further strengthening them against attack. Plus, we’re adding required cybersecurity training to our local clerk education programs.”

The Aug. 7 primary will be the first statewide election in which every city and township will use all new voting equipment that includes optical-scan ballot tabulators, accessible voting devices for voters with disabilities, and election-management and reporting software.

New upgrades include:

• Next-generation voting equipment that offers added security features over the older systems, including stronger multi-factor access controls, advanced data encryption and better physical security of tabulator access points with locks and seals. Tabulators are not connected to the internet.

The state paid for the equipment with $10 million that Johnson pushed the Legislature to approve and $30 million in federal money that Johnson and her predecessor saved for more than a decade. Cities and townships have had no upfront costs for the new equipment. Michigan was one of the only states that saved a substantial amount of federal funds to assist with the purchase of the next-generation voting systems, and one of the only states able to implement new voting systems statewide for use in the 2018 election cycle.

• $11.2 million in election security grants that Michigan will receive this year to upgrade elections systems. Bureau of Elections staff is finalizing how the money will be spent, but the plan will include a strong focus on security assessment – including comprehensive tests and other cybersecurity measures at the state, county and local level. The state must contribute $500,000 to receive $10.7 million that Congress approved this year for Michigan. The money is in addition to the extensive cybersecurity efforts already employed by the state of Michigan, which constantly monitors systems for suspicious activity and protects against cyberattacks.

• An upgraded Qualified Voter File system used by the Bureau of Elections and local clerks to maintain the state’s registered voter list and other election-related data. Besides being an improved, modern system that will help clerks perform their work more efficiently and effectively, the new system features enhanced security built in from the ground up over its 20-year-old predecessor.

• Strengthened relations with state and federal law-enforcement and homeland-security agencies. The Bureau of Elections can report any suspicious activity it detects — cyber or otherwise — with the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center, which shares threat information among local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI, Michigan State Police, Michigan National Guard and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Department of State has a staff person who participates with center. Additionally, Homeland Security officials now regularly share pertinent information, tools and services with state elections officials to assist them in thoroughly assessing and securing all aspects of their systems. Secretary of State staff have also participated in briefings for election administrators from federal homeland security officials.

• Expanded cybersecurity training for local election officials. Bureau of Elections staff are now also implementing a continuous multi-course training curriculum for clerks on cybersecurity best practices.

• Post-election audits that now include ballot validation. Bureau of Elections and county clerks now include ballot validation in the post-election audit process. After this November’s general election, ballot tabulation validation will be completed for the first time for a statewide election, involving every county with some randomly selected precincts. This process will verify that the voting machines properly tabulated ballots. The previous process, in place since 2013, already verified the successful completion of appropriate pre-election programming and testing steps. Post-election audits, which were started by Johnson, verify local election workers are performing their duties correctly and help target training programs to better assist election workers.

In addition to the new equipment and initiatives, Michigan elections will continue to feature long-standing accuracy and integrity practices that include:

• A detailed, thorough canvassing and certification process that each county performs after each election for up to two weeks. During the canvass, each precinct’s results are scrutinized, and ballot and voter numbers are cross-checked to make sure everything adds up. Each county’s canvassing board, which certifies election results, is made up of two Republicans and two Democrats. In addition, state and federal races are then canvassed and certified by the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers.

• Voting machine public testing. Every ballot tabulator used in each of the state’s 4,800 precincts is tested before every election in a public forum to verify it will tabulate ballots accurately, and then is physically secured until Election Day.

• Election precincts open to the public and representatives of political parties and other groups to observe voting and ensure officials are performing their duties properly.

• Continuous voter-list maintenance efforts. the Bureau of Elections and local clerks regularly scrub the voter list to remove ineligible voters. During Johnson’s time in office, The Bureau of Elections has removed 1.2 million ineligible voters, including 134,000 who have moved out of state and registered in a new state, 563,000 who died and 3,512 who were noncitizens.

Instructors needed for Michigan’s motorcycle safety classes

Michigan is looking for men and women, who love motorcycles and working with people, to teach others how to ride.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, who oversees the state’s Michigan Rider Education Program, says that becoming a motorcycle safety class instructor, or “RiderCoach,” provides benefits beyond the pay.

“Safe motorcycling requires that you learn how to use good judgment and the information on the road to assess risks and react appropriately,” Johnson said. “It’s a complex skill set that’s important to practice every time you ride. As instructors, there is nothing more satisfying than working with a class of students to develop that habit, knowing that you are helping them take an important step to becoming safe, life-long riders.”

The pay rate for RiderCoaches varies from $24 – $35 per hour, depending on location. RiderCoach applicants must be experienced motorcyclists who enjoy working with people and possess good riding and communications skills.

To become a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoach, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have passed a Basic Rider Course (beginning motorcycle class) within the last year
• Have held a motorcycle endorsement for at least one year
• Possess a good driving record
• Pass a criminal background check
• Obtain a sponsorship with an approved public or private motorcycle safety course provider (providers are located throughout the state)
• Successfully complete the RiderCoach Prep Course

The fee for a RiderCoach Prep Course is $75 and includes the materials required for the course. RiderCoach candidates will spend approximately 80 hours in the classroom and on the motorcycle riding range. Participants must attend every session, pass a riding-skills test and a knowledge test. They will learn how to effectively instruct and evaluate students in the classroom and on the range and will be required to teach a basic motorcycle safety class under the tutelage of an experienced instructor.

Two RiderCoach Prep Courses are being offered in August.

• August 13-16 at Macomb Community College – South Campus
• August 17-19 at Schoolcraft College – Radcliff Campus
• August 20 at Schoolcraft College – Livonia Campus

This eight-day course will be led by RiderCoach Trainer Vince Consiglio. For more information, contact Renee Waraksa at waraksar@macomb.edu.

• August 9-12 and August 16-19 at the west campus of Lansing Community College in Lansing. For more information about this eight-day course, contact RiderCoach Trainer Steve Lick at Steve.Lick@gmail.com.

In 2017, nearly 11,500 people enrolled in a Michigan motorcycle safety class. In addition to the Basic Rider Course, the state offers a Returning Rider Basic Rider Course, an Advance Rider Course and a 3-Wheel Basic Rider Course.

“We have a great need for motorcycle RiderCoaches,” Johnson said. “The pay is good, the work is rewarding, and you get to mingle with like-minded motorcycle enthusiasts. What more could you ask for?”

For more information about the Michigan Rider Education Program, visit www.michigan.gov/mi-rep. For a list of public and private motorcycle safety sponsors, go to www.michigan.gov/motorcycling.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson praised members of the Michigan Senate for passing legislation today that will provide residents with the accurate and secure option of online voter registration.

“Michigan has the ability to accurately and securely receive registration applications online and authenticate voters against their driver or state ID information on file,” Johnson said. “I commend members of the Senate for working to offer our citizens an easy way to register to vote through the use of modern technology.”

Johnson has worked with legislators to make online voter registration a reality. Throughout her tenure as Secretary of State, she has sought ways to use proven, safe and secure technology to improve and streamline Secretary of State services.

The online services at ExpressSOS.com allow customers to complete just about any transaction online. Launched in 2011, the site offers such conveniences as change of address, duplicate vehicle titles, and vehicle registration and driver’s license renewals over the internet. In Fiscal Year 2017, ExpressSOS.com processed more than 2.2 million transactions online.

Secretary Johnson applauds new 30-day grace period for placing tabs on license plates
Motorists can hop online to ExpressSOS.com right up to last minute

On March 14, 2018, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson applauded legislators for passing and Gov. Rick Snyder for signing legislation that gives millions of Michigan motorists a 30-day grace period to affix their tab after renewing their vehicle’s registration.

House Bill 4535, sponsored by Rep. Curt VanderWall of Ludington, was signed into law yesterday and assigned as Public Act 64 of 2018 today with immediate effect.

“Thanks to this new law, if you renew online or by mail at the last minute, you don’t have to worry about getting a ticket for not having received your tab yet,” Johnson said. “The grace period means you can renew from home up to the deadline. So hop online, not in line, to ExpressSOS.com with Print‘N Go technology. It’s painless!”

Accurate and secure, online registration technology meets elections’ administration challenges of the 21st Century

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today thanked the Michigan House and Senate election committees for their support of online voter registration application, an initiative she has long championed.

“Thirty-eight states offer online voter registration tools,” Johnson said. “Michigan is uniquely positioned to do the same because the Secretary of State’s Office oversees both driver licensing and elections, which provides a secure database that makes it easy to authenticate a voter’s address, identification and signature against their driver or state ID information.”

Bill sponsors include Reps. Julie Calley and Michael Webber, and Sens. Judy Emmons, Goeff Hansen, Dave Hildebrand, Mike Nofs and Jim Stamas.

Devices violated state standards, risked public safety

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today that Alcohol Detection Systems, a national supplier of ignition interlock devices, has been summarily suspended and may no longer supply breath alcohol ignition interlock devices in Michigan.

The devices manufactured by ADS, which supplies Waterford-based Michigan Interlock, failed to require the necessary start-up tests and periodic retests as mandated by Michigan law. The company also failed to report violations in which drivers were able to start or continue driving without providing a breath sample.

Ignition interlock devices require a breath sample before the user may start a vehicle. Random breath tests also are required while the vehicle is in operation to ensure the driver remains alcohol-free. The device measures the driver’s bodily alcohol content (BAC) and keeps the vehicle from starting if the device detects a BAC of 0.025 or higher.

About 1,500 residents have an ADS ignition interlock device. Any driver with an ADS device will need to contact Michigan Interlock to have the device removed at no cost and have a new device installed by one of the five approved manufacturers. The new device must be installed within seven days after the ADS device is removed.

An ignition interlock device is required as a condition of a restricted driver’s license for drivers with a first conviction for Operating with a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.17 or more and for habitual offenders who have any of the following combination of alcohol or controlled substance related driving convictions:

•  Two or more convictions within seven years.
•  Three or more convictions within 10 years.

“We take our responsibility to safeguard ignition interlock customers and the public seriously,” Johnson said. “We must be certain that ignition interlock users are being tested as required before and while they drive to ensure public safety on the roadways. Interlock manufacturers that do not comply with state laws will not be allowed to operate in Michigan.”

Information about the other ignition interlock manufacturers in Michigan is available on the Secretary of State website. Customers with an ADS ignition interlock system installed by Michigan Interlock who have questions may contact the Michigan Department of State at 888-767-6424.

Secretary Johnson launches new system to make it easier to navigate license appeal hearings
New system brings simplicity, efficiency for users

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today announced that procedures that must be completed for a driver’s license appeal hearing just became much more streamlined thanks to technology.

The “Driver Appeal Integrated System” (DAIS), an online application process for driver’s license appeal hearings, is the latest customer service innovation being rolled out by the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office.

The system will help attorneys, prosecutors and law enforcement officers who are part of the Administrative Hearings process. Driver’s license hearings are scheduled when motorists wish to appeal the denial or revocation of their license.

“This new system brings easy access and efficiency to a complex process,” Johnson said. “The new system not only makes the request for a hearing simpler, but it allows staff to securely transfer hearing files, orders and transcripts electronically, which is a great time-saver.”

The new system provides the following advantages:

• Hearing requests, payments, required documents and transcripts are provided and submitted electronically.
• All hearing notifications, including hearing dates, adjournments, withdrawals and notice of final hearing decisions are sent via email.
• Circuit court petitions and orders regarding license appeal matters can be handled through the new system.

Customers who want to request a hearing are provided access to the online system and create their own secure login account. Individuals who already have a MiLogin account can request access to the new system.

Attorneys, prosecutors and law enforcement officers have their own login for creating an account.

Customers submitting hearing requests through the new system are asked to refrain from also mailing or faxing in the same request. An email will be sent to customers confirming that their electronic request was received.

“I applaud the great work of our Administrative Hearings Section for implementing this innovative system, and thank the state’s Department of Technology, Management and Budget for their efforts as well,” Johnson said. “Customers and staff will quickly see the benefits of the new system over a more, traditional paper-based system.”

Secretary Johnson: Driver Responsibility Fee elimination great day for drivers

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson issued the following statement about Gov. Snyder signing legislation to fully eliminate Driver Responsibility Fees:

“What a great day for Michigan drivers,” Johnson said. “I want to thank Gov. Snyder, all the lawmakers who voted for this and all the work my staff has put in over the years to get rid of this automatic double-penalty that was hurting hard-working Michigan families. Too many Michigan drivers lost their license because of Driver Responsibility Fees that didn’t promote public safety but did make it harder for people to pick up their kids from school or get to work.”

As a state representative in 2003, Johnson voted against Driver Responsibility Fees. As secretary of state, she has pushed for repealing the Driver Responsibility Fee law, successfully advocating that lawmakers eliminate the most common fees in 2011, create a community service option for certain fees in 2015 and begin phasing out all fees.

Driver Responsibility Fees are an additional fee automatically charged for various traffic violations, including non-moving violations, on top of regular traffic citation fines and court costs. Unlike traditional court fines and fees in which a judge can take into consideration a driver’s ability to pay and order alternatives, such as payment plans or community service in lieu of payment, the automatically assessed Driver Responsibility Fees cannot be waived or reduced by a judge.

Three priorities that define Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s tenure
Johnson releases short video of department’s accomplishments

The mission of the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office can be summed up in three words, “serve,” “secure” and “protect,” according to Ruth Johnson, elected the state’s 42nd Secretary of State in 2010.

Since taking office, Johnson and her staff have concentrated on positioning her office for the challenges of the 21st century by defining three top priorities: customer service, elections’ integrity and consumer protection. Now, in the final year of her administration, she is releasing a short video summarizing the achievements of the last seven years.

The key priority of Johnson has been to secure the protection and integrity of Michigan’s elections. Under her administration, more than 1.2 million names of voters who had died, moved out of state or were otherwise not eligible to vote were removed from the state’s Qualified Voter File rolls. In addition, new voting equipment that is easier to use and provides greater security was purchased for every city and township. Johnson saved $30 million in federal money and successfully advocated the Legislature to contribute $10 million.

Since taking office, 563,000 people who died, 134,000 who moved out of state and 3,500 noncitizens have been removed from the voter list. The department also has an ongoing subscription with the Security Social Administration to identify and remove people who have died.

“I’ve spent a lot of time listening to people’s thoughts and concerns with the Secretary of State’s Office,” Johnson said. “I’ve also talked extensively with staff about their vision. We’re focused on a customer-focused agency dedicated to integrity, consumer protection and better service delivery.”

Johnson’s other priority is customer service, using technology to provide better, faster services. Today, innovations such as ExpressSOS.com, an online powerhouse for Secretary of State services, and MI-TIME Line, which allows customers to make an appointment or hold their place in line by phone, kiosk or computer, are used routinely by millions of residents across the state.

Shutting down fraudulent activities and protecting consumers is Johnson’s other priority. The department’s Office of Investigative Services, which was created by Johnson, targets illegal activity, including fraudulent auto insurance certificates, vehicle registrations and titles, defective auto repairs, bad warranties and repair-plagued vehicles. Since 2015, the OIS has shut down 48 unregistered auto repair shops and 62 car dealerships, and processed 347 criminal warrant requests.

All licenses, ID cards accepted for all purposes until Oct. 1, 2020

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security officially confirmed this week that Michigan fully complies with the federal REAL ID Act.

The state’s full compliance status means all Michigan driver’s licenses and ID cards will be accepted until Oct. 1, 2020, to board domestic flights, or enter federal buildings, nuclear plants or military bases.

On Oct. 1, 2020, Michigan residents will need REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or ID cards or another accepted identification document to board flights or enter federal sites.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson made the following statement regarding the announced deal to eliminate Driver Responsibility Fees:

“This announced deal to address and fully eliminate Driver Responsibility Fees is great news for Michigan motorists. The automatic fees collected by the Department of Treasury were a terrible mistake during the dark days of Michigan’s lost decade. They’re a double-penalty that hit hard-working Michigan families and unlike the underlying traffic ticket, judges couldn’t review or offer alternate ways of taking care of the added fee.

“The fact that we’re eliminating these fees shows how much Michigan has come back over the past seven years. I’m thankful that the Legislature and the governor are moving swiftly to close this painful chapter in our history. The fees had nothing to do with traffic safety, never should have been adopted and are now finally on the way out.”

As a state representative in 2003, Johnson voted against Driver Responsibility Fees. As secretary of state, she has pushed for repealing the Driver Responsibility Fee law, successfully advocating that lawmakers eliminate the most common fees in 2011, create a community service option for certain fees in 2015 and begin phasing out all fees.

Driver Responsibility Fees are an additional fee automatically charged for various traffic violations, including non-moving violations, on top of regular traffic citation fines and court costs. Unlike traditional court fines and fees in which a judge can take into consideration a driver’s ability to pay and order alternatives, such as payment plans or community service in lieu of payment, the automatically assessed Driver Responsibility Fees cannot be waived or reduced by a judge.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today made the following statement about Driver Responsibility Fees as lawmakers return from winter break next week.

“Michigan residents have waited long enough for relief from these burdensome fees that are hurting families and job growth across the state,” Johnson said. “I encourage House and Senate members to work together with the governor to reach a deal right away to forgive the fees. Driver Responsibility Fees are not enforcing traffic safety. Because of this automatic double-penalty, too many Michigan residents have lost their licenses because of Driver Responsibility Fees. They can’t take their kids to school or get to work, disrupting their families and harming local businesses who can’t find enough qualified employees.”

As a state representative in 2003, Johnson voted against Driver Responsibility Fees. As secretary of state, she has pushed for repealing the Driver Responsibility Fee law, successfully advocating that lawmakers eliminate the most common fees in 2011, create a community service option for certain fees in 2015 and begin phasing out all fees.

Driver Responsibility Fees are an additional fee automatically charged for various traffic violations, including non-moving violations, on top of regular traffic citation fines and court costs. Unlike traditional court fines and fees in which a judge can take into consideration a driver’s ability to pay and order alternatives, such as payment plans or community service in lieu of payment, the automatically assessed Driver Responsibility Fees cannot be waived or reduced by a judge.

More SOS offices to offer service that lets customers hold spot in line, make appointments
Check in online or with your phone, don’t wait in the office

The innovative MI-TIME Line service that allows customers to use their phones or computers to make appointments or hold their place in line is being installed at 13 more offices over the next few months, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today.

“Customers who can’t hop online to ExpressSOS.com can soon take advantage of the MI-TIME Line service at many more of our offices,” Johnson said. “After you get in line, you can run other errands or wait from home or work until you’re ready to be called up.”

MI-TIME Line sends text updates to notify customers of their estimated wait time and allows them to request more time if needed. Those who don’t have a mobile phone can check in at the MI-TIME Line kiosk and get a printed ticket.

More than 5.7 million customers have used the service to complete a total of 10.3 million transactions since it launched in January 2014. The 43 offices that will offer MI-TIME Line when this expansion is complete total 56 percent of all branch transactions performed statewide.

Customers can find participating offices and reserve their place in line at michigan.gov/mitimeline.

Go to official State of Michigan sites, not unaffiliated pay sites

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson reminds Michigan residents that when they go online for Secretary of State business they double-check the website they’re doing business with before they get taken for a ride by a motor-vehicle look-alike site.

“When you need answers or have driver or vehicle business to do in Michigan, watch out for sites that aren’t official state of Michigan sites that pop up in a web search,” Johnson said. “Those unofficial sites may charge you unnecessary fees and provide inaccurate information. Keep it real. Deal directly with the Secretary of State’s Office.”

Residents should be sure to go to the official sites Michigan.gov/sos or ExpressSOS.com for the most accurate information.

Johnson said her office regularly receives complaints from customers who believed they visited an official Secretary of State website to complete a transaction and paid a fee, only to later find that the money did not go to the state, and they did not get the services they thought they were buying.

Unfortunately, these customers used an online search engine that listed sites not affiliated with the state of Michigan when they were looking for driver’s license and vehicle license plate renewal options or other Secretary of State services. These sites charge for information or services that are normally available at no cost on the official department website.

The unofficial sites, which may end in “.org” or “.com”, often give the initial impression of being a motor-vehicle agency website, but, if you look closer, the sites may have a notification they are not affiliated with a government agency. Some sites sell “guides” to people about how to obtain a driver’s license that may be nothing more than electronic versions of free literature that motorists can get online or at any Secretary of State office.

Official Secretary of State online services can be accessed by going to Michigan.gov/sos or ExpressSOS.com, which redirect users to the Michigan.gov site. State of Michigan web pages all have Michigan.gov in the address or state.mi.us for some services.

Under federal rules, only compliant cards to be accepted for air travel 

Michigan residents will have the option beginning next Monday, Aug. 28 of applying for a driver’s license or ID card that will allow them to board flights and enter federal facilities to comply with a federal mandate, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today.

Right above: REAL ID-compliant driver’s license.

Right below: Standard driver’s license is not REAL ID-compliant.

“Without a card accepted by the federal government, Michigan residents will face the inconvenience and extra expense of having to get a passport or another accepted document to fly or visit federal buildings,” Johnson said. “To avoid future headaches for travelers, we will offer a compliant card for those who want one, and, for those who don’t, we still have the standard card for normal identification purposes.”

Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, the federal government will not allow Michigan residents carrying a driver’s license or ID card that does not comply with the federal REAL ID Act to board domestic flights, or enter federal buildings, nuclear plants or military bases unless they have another accepted identity document.

Compliant cards will be marked with a star inside a gold circle on the upper right. There is no extra fee for a REAL ID-compliant card and compliant cards will not contain Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

Michigan residents should check their license or ID card renewal notice when it arrives in the mail for information about whether they already have complied with REAL ID identification requirements. To obtain a compliant card, residents will need to bring a certified birth certificate or another approved document to any Secretary of State office.

Card-holders who do not apply for a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card will receive a standard one with “Not for federal identification” printed on it. These cards still will be valid for driving, identification purposes and buying age-restricted items.

In addition to the standard and REAL ID-compliant cards, Michigan also issues enhanced driver’s licenses and ID cards (pictured at left), which are marked with a U.S. flag, and allow land or sea travel from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean nations. These cards already are REAL ID-compliant so enhanced card-holders do not need to apply for a compliant card.

The federal REAL ID standards for driver’s licenses and ID cards were created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks based on recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. The act sets document and security standards for the production and issuance of driver’s licenses and ID cards, including the use of features to prevent illegal copying or altering. It also helps protect against fraud and misuse by requiring people to verify their identity, residency, Social Security number, and citizenship or legal presence when applying for a license or ID card.

The REAL ID Act passed Congress in 2005 on a bipartisan basis, and the administrations of Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump have worked to enforce it.

Customers with questions about REAL ID licenses and ID cards may visit the Secretary of State website or call the Department of State Information Center at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).

NOTE:

• An informational video about Michigan’s new REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card is available online.
• A list of Frequently Asked Questions about the compliant license and ID card, and the standard, noncompliant license also is available online.

New effort begins to modernize computer system for customers

 Secretary of State staff are celebrating the recent launch of the new effort to modernize the office’s computer system that will bring more efficient, convenient service to customers across Michigan, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today.

The new effort, called Customer and Automotive Records System (CARS), will create a modern computer system, replacing the antiquated legacy mainframe-based system that dates to the late 1960s. The legacy system is programmed with a computer language that is no longer taught, and is costly to maintain and update.

“The people of Michigan and Secretary of State staff deserve better than the out-of-date computer system we have,” Johnson said. “Now we are moving forward with our partner FAST Enterprises to make a much-improved system a reality. FAST has a proven record of success launching similar projects on time and on budget for many other state motor-vehicle agencies.”

The CARS Project will combine Michigan’s millions of driver and vehicle records into one integrated customer record system that updates in real time, replacing multiple, separate systems that don’t effectively transfer customer-record updates among themselves.

All of the information in the new system will be quickly accessible by an office staff member with a single search. Even correspondence that has been sent to each customer will be part of their record.

The improvement in technology will pave the way for more self-service options for customers, such as ordering license plates online, and for faster, less resource-intensive programming when there are legislative changes that affect the department. CARS will also help the department move to electronic records and to eliminate paperwork for customers.

FAST Enterprises, the vendor for the project, has launched 10 motor-vehicle systems in eight states and is the only company nationally that has successfully completed legacy modernization projects for motor-vehicle agencies in more than one state. In each of those states, the company delivered on time and on budget. The company is taking its existing software package and tailoring it to Michigan’s needs.

CARS is expected to be implemented fully within five years. The first half of the project will involve converting vehicle records over to the new system and implementing it. Then, the same will be done for driver records.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today released the following statement regarding the introduction of legislation that would address long-term Driver Responsibility Fee debt:

“I look forward to working with lawmakers to close this painful chapter from Michigan’s lost decade. Driver Responsibility Fees are over and above traffic tickets and fines imposed by a court. The fees are a costly, double penalty on working families added automatically, without the opportunity for a court to review the circumstances as with normal tickets. Too many Michigan residents now can’t drive because of these automatic fees, limiting their ability to find work, and it’s starting to hurt local businesses who can’t find enough qualified employees.  We have to acknowledge that much of the money owed to the state is simply uncollectible, and we must find a solution that allows hard-working, law-abiding Michigan residents living paycheck to paycheck get their driver’s license back.”

Johnson voted against Driver Responsibility Fees in 2003 as a state representative. As secretary of state, she has advocated for repealing the Driver Responsibility Fee law, successfully pushing lawmakers to eliminate the most common fees in 2011, create a community service option for certain fees in 2015 and begin phasing out all fees.

Since 2011, 2.6 million more people have signed up to give the gift of life

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today announced that the number of Michigan adults registered as organ, tissue and eye donors has topped 60 percent.

Johnson recently joined Gift of Life Michigan’s CEO Dorrie Dils to film a message for SOS staff, thanking them for their hard work reaching this goal on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. The video message coincides with National DMV/SOS Appreciation Week, Sept. 25-29, when donation advocates across the country will thank SOS and DMV staff for their help in saving and improving lives.

“About 85 percent of people who sign up do so through our Secretary of State offices,” Johnson said. “Our partnerships with Gift of Life Michigan and Eversight have produced hope for nearly 3,400 people awaiting a life-changing transplant, yet we continue to advocate for signing up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry because the need will continue to grow.”

When she took office in 2011, Johnson learned that only 27 percent of eligible Michigan residents had signed up. She made expanding the organ donor rolls a priority but insisted that it be done at little to no cost to taxpayers. She directed her staff to start asking customers if they wanted to sign up, created a task force of leading experts and began promoting organ donor registration throughout her branch offices.

“Achieving this milestone reflects the generosity of Michigan residents and the dedication of Secretary of State Johnson and all of the SOS staff,” said Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan. “Together, we are giving hope to the thousands of people who could benefit from an organ, tissue or cornea transplant.”

“Eversight is thrilled 60 percent of Michigan residents have made their wishes known in support of the gifts of sight, life and mobility,” said Alison Claerhout Wright, Eversight Director of Philanthropy in Michigan. “We applaud Secretary Johnson and her staff on their admirable work to make this exciting milestone a reality.”

More than 4,660,000 people are on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Every donor has the ability to save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve up to 75 more through cornea and tissue donation.

Anyone can join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, regardless of age or medical history. Go to www.ExpressSOS.com, call 866-500-5801 or visit any Secretary of State office.

For more information on organ, eye and tissue donation, visit www.giftoflifemichigan.org or www.eversightvision.org. To sign up to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry and to access some of the Secretary of State’s most popular services, visit www.ExpressSOS.com.

Secretary Johnson: Voters Should Be Registered In Just 1 State;
Deceased Quickly Removed

Johnson endorses common-sense reforms in response to presidential election commission

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today presented several common-sense election reforms to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, including the need to have the federal government and states work together to clean up voter rolls by removing deceased voters and voters registered in multiple states.

In response to a recent request from the commission to state election administrators about how the federal government can help improve election administration, Johnson proposed that state motor vehicle agencies be required to notify a voter’s prior state of residence when an individual moves to a new state and registers to vote there. Once the election administrator in the voter’s former state of residence receives confirmation that a voter has moved and registered to vote in another state, the voter registration in the previous state could be cancelled. Federal law already requires motor-vehicle agencies to ask driver’s license applicants if they want to register to vote.

“This common-sense reform would provide for the efficient removal of nonresidents from state voter rolls, while minimizing the opportunity for individuals to vote in multiple states at the same election,” Johnson wrote in her letter to the commission. “Once fully implemented, the legislation will enhance state efforts to ensure that votes are cast only by eligible voters and will result in cost savings for state and local election administrators.”

Improved voter information sharing among the states was strongly endorsed by President Obama’s bipartisan Presidential Commission on Election Administration as a way to better maintain voter records nationally.

Johnson also recommended that the federal government provide the Social Security Administration’s list of deceased Social Security card holders to states at a much lower cost than states are now charged so the deceased can be quickly removed to eliminate a vulnerability to voter fraud. Additionally, she said the federal government should do more to assist states in identifying noncitizen registered voters so those records can be removed from the voter file. She encouraged the federal government to provide noncitizen information to state election officials to ensure voter rolls do not include ineligible individuals. This data sharing also would help protect noncitizens who inadvertently become registered to vote and seriously jeopardize their legal path to U.S. citizenship.

In response to a question about finding ways to prevent voter intimidation or disenfranchisement, Johnson noted that having clean, accurate voter rolls will protect all voters by reducing the possibility that a voter visits the wrong polling location, and then is challenged or given a provisional ballot that may not be counted. Additionally, Johnson shared her opposition to allowing cameras and video recorders in polling places, as an ongoing lawsuit that her office is vigorously defending against seeks.

“I am particularly concerned that allowing photography in the polling place would be viewed by some voters as intimidating or coercive, as it compromises ballot secrecy,” she wrote. “A voter or an image of his or her ballot may be surreptitiously recorded and posted on social media without the voter’s knowledge or consent.”

President Trump created the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity this year to review voter registration and voting processes nationwide. Vice President Pence chairs the commission, which has solicited ideas for improvements from each state’s chief election officer.

As part of its request for information, the commission also sought voter registration data from all 50 states. Consistent with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), any individual or group may request and obtain publicly available voter registration data. Basic voter information such as name, year of birth and dates of elections in which a person has voted, but not how a person voted, will be released to the commission if it submits the required FOIA request form and pays the standard fee for the voter records. The state’s voter file is routinely released to candidates, political parties, news outlets and academic researchers, among others, as required by state law.

The copy of the letter to the commission is available online.

New Director Sally Williams oversaw statewide purchases of election equipment

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today announced Sally Williams, a long-time Department of State staff person, as the next director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections.

Williams now serves as the bureau’s Election Liaison Division director, which assists county and local clerks in their election administration duties, and oversees training of local election officials. Before that, she served in the executive offices of Secretaries Candice Miller and Terri Lynn Land as the assistant to the chief of staff and as a project manager for major departmental initiatives.

“Sally’s breadth of experience with Michigan elections and her established relationship with local clerks make her an excellent choice to lead the Bureau of Elections,” said Johnson, the state’s chief election official. “She will ensure Michigan voters can continue to have full confidence in the accuracy and integrity of our elections process. Already in her current position, she has spearheaded improvements in a number of areas, including a focus on improving election worker training.”

A Michigan State University graduate and 30-year employee of the department, Williams led the efforts of the Bureau of Elections when the state reviewed and selected vendors to supply the new election equipment that will be in use statewide by August 2018. She also directed the bureau’s efforts to better train local election officials and their workers, and conduct post-election audits, as well as the launch of the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov/vote.

“I’m honored to be Michigan’s next elections director,” said Williams, who will be the first female elections director since the position was created in the 1950s. “We have a great team in the Bureau of Elections, and Chris Thomas has prepared us well. I look forward to continuing my work with local clerks so Michigan voters have their voices heard on Election Day.”

Williams replaces Christopher M. Thomas, who retires this week after 36 years as director. The Bureau of Elections, which reports to the secretary of state, accepts and reviews candidate and ballot question petition filings; conducts statewide instructional programs for clerks and precinct workers; assists county and local election officials with their administrative duties; and oversees the operation of the Qualified Voter File. It also administers Michigan’s Campaign Finance Act, the Lobby Registration Act and the Office of the Great Seal, which commissions notaries public, among other duties.

Secretary Johnson, MSHDA Director Poleski promote fundraising plate

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s lighthouse license plate has a new design and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Executive Director Earl Poleski are promoting it as a way to help preserve the iconic structures on the state’s shorelines.

“Michigan is a state of wondrous natural resources and breathtaking beauty,” Secretary Johnson said. “Scattered along the edges of its peninsulas, our Great Lakes State also has more than a hundred lighthouses that are majestic to behold and exciting to explore. We need to keep them in good condition for everyone to enjoy.”

Buying a Save Our Lights license plate helps preserve Michigan’s historic lighthouses. When a plate is purchased, $25 of the $35 additional fee and all $10 of subsequent fees go toward the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program, administered by the State Historic Preservation Office at MSHDA. Since 2000, the program has awarded more than $2 million in grants to lighthouse stewards for the rehabilitation of these historic structures.

“The Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program enables the State Historic Preservation Office to help lighthouse stewards preserve these beacons for all of us,” Poleski said. “Because of the generosity of people who pay a little extra for a Save Our Lights license plate, we are able to award grants to local communities committed to rehabilitating and protecting these beautiful structures for the long term.”

The new lighthouse license plate design was intended to be more representative of all of the state’s lighthouses. The old plate featured a specific lighthouse, the White Shoal Light. Lighthouses have been protecting ships from treacherous waters in Michigan since the establishment of the state’s first lighthouse, the Fort Gratiot Light, in 1825. More than 240 lighthouses once guarded Michigan’s shores. Today, only 124 of these iconic structures remain.

For more information about the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program and to order a Save Our Lights license plate, visit michigan.gov/saveourlights.

To assist Michigan consumers with reporting potential fraud, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today that a telephone Tip Line is now available for use by anyone who witnesses or experiences potential fraud involving Michigan Department of State programs or documents.

The Tip Line allows callers to report suspicious or suspected fraudulent activity. Anyone with knowledge of fraud is encouraged to call 1-844-372-8356 to report suspected violations. The number is toll-free.

“Fraud is a growing threat in our state and nation that costs consumers many billions of dollars every year,” Secretary Johnson said. “If you are aware of scams or illegal activities related to Michigan vehicles, identification, documents, elections or any area this department oversees, please contact our toll-free Tip Line with as many details as you can provide. Our investigators will work with law enforcement agencies to catch lawbreakers that hurt all of us.”

Anyone can also send an email to sos-ois@michigan.gov to communicate with the Secretary of State’s Office of Investigative Services. OIS is the primary investigative authority within the Department of State and is charged with overseeing investigations involving the department’s program areas.

Johnson created OIS as part of her focus on strengthening her office’s consumer protection efforts. The office primarily investigates and inspects automotive-related businesses and consumer complaints against them.

Information about Secretary of State office hours, locations and services can be found at michigan.gov/sos.

Johnson: ProtectMiChild Registry can help keep kids safe from unsuitable online ads

LANSING, Mich. ‒ With June celebrated as National Internet Safety Month, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is reminding parents that they can help keep their kids safe by joining the ProtectMiChild Registry.

The registry is a free and secure program housed on the Secretary of State website that families and schools can use to block adult-oriented ads for products like alcohol, tobacco, pornography and online gambling from reaching their children’s email inboxes, tablets, cell phones or instant messenger IDs.

“With kids spending a great deal of time on their smartphones and other devices, parents face a tough task in keeping children safe from influences and products that are not age appropriate,” Johnson said. “The ProtectMiChild Registry provides parents with the tools they need to help control the Internet content to which their children are exposed. It’s a great resource and I encourage parents and schools to use it to protect their kids.”

Concerned parents or schools may register the electronic addresses for any devices children use at ProtectMiChild.com. The registry will block adult Internet ads for all registered contact points (such as an email address, smart phone number or instant messenger ID) for three years or until the youngest child with access to the contact point reaches the age of 18. Once the information has been entered into the registry, companies that send messages that advertise or link to prohibited products or services are required to remove the registered contact email, phone number or IM within 30 days from their mailing lists. ProtectMiChild registrations may be renewed at any time for an additional three-year period.

U.S Census figures from 2014 show that youth under the age of 18 comprise about 22 percent of the state’s population. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, teens spend an average of 2.3 hours per day engaged in electronic communication and recreation (surfing the Internet, playing video games, texting with friends, and viewing TV) and nearly twice as much time on the weekends. There are a number of Internet games, devices and services produced just for preschoolers.

Visit the registry at ProtectMiChild.com.

A video message from Secretary Johnson about the ProtectMiChild Registry is available here.

Work on rebuilt vehicles must be performed adequately

Under a new state law now in effect, damaged vehicles deemed salvage must be inspected by a certified mechanic before being allowed back on the road, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today.

Previously, only an inspection by a trained law-enforcement officer was required to verify that the vehicle was not repaired using stolen auto parts. The new law adds a certification by a licensed mechanic to ensure the repair work was done adequately and the vehicle is safe to drive.

“Michigan car-buyers now will have peace of mind that a newly rebuilt vehicle they buy has been inspected by a certified mechanic and wasn’t repaired poorly,” Johnson said. “I thank lawmakers for approving this important consumer-protection law.”

People who have repaired a salvage vehicle must use the same salvage-vehicle inspection form, which now includes a section for a certified mechanic to fill out. The form is available online or at any Secretary of State office. Once completed, the vehicle owner must submit the form at a Secretary of State office along with the vehicle’s salvage title and a salvage certification form before receiving a rebuilt salvage title.

Salvage titles are issued to distressed vehicles that weigh 4 tons or less and were manufactured in the last six model years, or those that weigh more than 4 tons and were manufactured in the last 16 model years. A vehicle becomes distressed when one or more of its major components, such as bumpers, engine, body or frame, have been wrecked, stolen or missing so the vehicle’s estimated damage is from 75 percent to less than 91 percent of its pre-damaged value.

A seller is required to disclose if the vehicle has a salvage title. Car buyers should watch for an orange title when purchasing a car. An orange title means that the vehicle has a salvage title, and may not be worth as much as the same car with a green or “clean” Michigan title.

Secretary Johnson: Voters “benefited tremendously from his leadership”

State Elections Director Christopher M. Thomas today announced he will retire in June after a career spanning five decades serving Michigan voters.

“I am incredibly grateful for Chris’ experience and expertise as state elections director,” said Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, who previously served as the Oakland County clerk. “Michigan voters and election workers have benefited tremendously from his leadership. I know of no one else here in Michigan or nationwide who has done more to support voters and improve election administration.”

Then-Secretary of State Richard Austin, a Democrat, appointed Thomas elections director in 1981. He then served under three Republican secretaries of state, most recently under Johnson. He began his career in elections administration in 1974 by working for the U.S. House of Representatives and later the Federal Election Commission.

“I take great pride in the team developed in the Bureau of Elections to carry out the secretary’s supervisory responsibilities under Michigan Election Law,” Thomas wrote in his resignation letter. “The bureau has never been better prepared or more cohesive as they are right now. I am comfortable leaving Michigan elections in these hands.”

“Enormous changes in the world of election administration have taken place over the past 40 years. The bureau has never been better prepared or more cohesive as they are right now. I am comfortable leaving Michigan elections in these hands. The secretary of state and the Bureau of Elections have been called upon by the Michigan Legislature and the Congress to take a larger role in ensuring uniform election administration, rolling out technology based services and keeping the franchise easily accessible and secure to all Michigan electors.”

Thomas has held positions in national organizations to improve election administration across the United States, including as chair of the Board of Advisers to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from 2006 to 2008 and as a member of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration in 2013. He also was a founding member of the National Association of State Elections Directors in 1989, and served as its president in 1997 and 2013. He was awarded the association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2012. He also has been an adjunct professor since 2001 at the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, where he received a law degree, teaching election law.

Bureau of Elections staff works closely with the 1,600 clerks of the state’s counties, cities and townships to provide training and assist local election officials with their duties. The bureau is responsible for administering the state’s Qualified Voter File, and Michigan election, campaign-finance and lobbyist disclosure laws.

Among the recent examples of new communications tools, the Bureau of Elections now offers an online training website for election workers, expanded YouTube education videos and the mobile-friendly Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov/vote, which allows voters to find their polling place, review a sample ballot and track their absentee ballot.

Department leadership will develop a plan to fill the position in the coming months.

5-point plan seeks to eliminate voter fraud vulnerabilities in states

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson has sent a list of recommendations on strengthening the integrity of the elections system to Vice President Mike Pence and Michigan’s congressional delegation asking that the federal government provide state and local officials with the tools they need to ensure election integrity.

Pence is expected to head a special commission to investigate election issues.

“I believe the most critical parts of election administration are getting eligible citizens registered to vote and ensuring that only those individuals who are eligible to vote appear on the voter rolls,” Johnson said in her letter to Pence. “The United States as a whole must strive for the cleanest voter lists to eliminate vulnerabilities to voter fraud. To allow an ineligible person to cast a ballot is to disenfranchise an eligible citizen.”

Johnson has made election integrity and the accuracy of Michigan’s Qualified Voter File a top priority since she took office in 2011. Her department has removed 1.1 million ineligible people from the voter rolls, including 482,427 deceased voters, 104,126 who were registered in two states and 3,359 noncitizens. Her office also has performed 1,400 post-election audits and sends out a reminder to Michigan residents when they turn 18 years old and asks people who aren’t registered when they visit a Secretary of State office. Michigan has been named the top state for registering people to vote at motor-vehicle offices.

Her five recommendations:

1. Make Social Security Administration data available – The federal government should help states remove the names of deceased voters from the voter rolls. The Social Security Administration holds this data and it should be made available at no cost to all state election officials and updated at least once per month.
2. Remove those registered in more than one state – Congress, with the support of the administration, needs to pass a law that allows a voter to be efficiently removed at state motor vehicle offices from the voting rolls if that voter registers in their new state of residence. There is no process, system or law to prevent people from being registered in more than one state. This needs to be an automated system for all states. Former Congresswoman Candice Miller worked hard on a bill that would have accomplished this but it never passed.
3. Share noncitizen info – The federal government should allow states to verify noncitizens are not on the voter rolls. For years, the federal government required motor-vehicle agency clerks to ask customers—without regard to their citizenship—if they would like to register to vote. As a consequence, many noncitizens registered in error. Johnson met with Homeland Security officials in 2012 and asked for assistance in removing noncitizens from the voter list but never heard back or received any information or cooperation despite numerous attempts.
4. Create an election crime database – A comprehensive, national database or repository of election-related crimes needs to be created by the administration or Congress with the participation of all states. It would be invaluable to have a federal repository of election crimes categorized with information easily retrieved to help quantify and qualify problems. This will help identify vulnerabilities and fix them.
5. Require a voting paper trail – Voting machines or tabulators across the U.S. should be required to have some form of a verifiable paper trail that allows officials and citizens to review the results instead of having to blindly trust electronic devices. Voting machines or tabulators that don’t provide election officials with a paper record do not instill confidence in our elections systems and lack the accountability needed. Additionally, voting machines should not be connected to the internet.

Clerks now will choose which system works best locally

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today announced the approval of contracts for new next-generation voting equipment that all Michigan voters will use over at least the next decade.

The State Administrative Board today approved 10-year contracts with three vendors for optical-scan voting systems that read and tabulate paper ballots marked by voters. Each of Michigan’s 83 county clerks now will consult with the city and township clerks in their county to select one of the three vendors.

“The new equipment offers voters all the speed and convenience of the latest ballot-scanning and election-night reporting technology while at the same time featuring a good, old-fashioned paper ballot that we can always go back and look at if we need to,” said Johnson, the state’s chief elections official.

The three election equipment and software vendors that had contracts approved today are Dominion Voting Systems, Election Systems and Software and Hart InterCivic, which all have systems that are being successfully used in other states.

“Michigan’s voting equipment has served us well over the past 12 years, but it is nearing the end of its expected lifespan and needs to be retired,” Johnson said. “I thank local clerks for their feedback as we discussed how to replace our aging equipment as well as the support of lawmakers and the governor.”

The new equipment, which includes ballot tabulators, accessible devices for use by voters with disabilities and election-management and reporting software, could be in use as early as the August 2017 primary local elections, depending on how quickly clerks are ready to implement them. All cities and townships across the state will have the new equipment by August 2018, which is the next scheduled statewide election.

The new systems all use digital optical scan technology, which includes notable improvements and increased ease of use for voters and election administrators. The systems allow for electronic storage of ballot images, a feature that will be useful during post-election audits. Improvements in the election management system software will save county and local clerks time and money in preparing for elections and providing election results. The options available for voters with disabilities are also greatly improved, and contractors will be required to continually assess and improve the systems, based on feedback. The contracts also cover service and maintenance.

A team of Michigan Bureau of Elections staff, local election officials and purchasing agents from the Secretary of State’s Office and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget reviewed the proposals and equipment before recommending approval of a contract with three vendors. Elections staff sought extensive feedback about the systems from local election officials and advocates for Michigan voters with disabilities.

The new equipment will be paid for with $30 million in federal Help America Vote Act money that the Secretary of State’s Office has saved for more than a decade, and with $10 million approved by the Legislature with the support of Gov. Snyder. This funding will cover most of the up-front cost for the new systems. Cities and townships will pay for the remaining cost, which will vary, depending on which vendor is selected, and for extended service and maintenance, which will begin in the 6th year of the contract period.

The equipment voters used in 2016 was rolled out in 2004 and 2005 when Michigan began using optical-scan voting systems statewide. Michigan is one of the only states with a substantial amount of federal funds still available to assist with the purchase of the next-generation voting systems.

Hop online, not in line, at ExpressSOS.com

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and a rapping kangaroo are teaming up to encourage Michigan residents to hop online to do their Secretary of State business as part of a grassroots effort to spread the word.

The “Kangaruth” video is being aired statewide and a 20-second, 30-second and 1-1/2 minute version can be viewed at youtube.com/michsosoffice or www.Michigan.gov/kangaruth.

“I am asking you to help out and share the video and the message of hopping online at ExpressSOS.com with as many people as possible to help shorten the wait times at Secretary of State branch offices,” Johnson said. “The more people that know about using the online services the shorter the wait times are for those who must visit an office in person.”

The Secretary of State’s Office is working with 25 percent fewer employees than it had a decade ago and the offices are getting busier as the state’s economy has picked up.

Residents can renew their registration/tabs for your car, truck, motorcycle and watercraft. Most people can renew or replace a standard driver’s license or state ID. And with its Print ’N Go feature, customers can print their receipt and drive legally until they get their card or sticker in the mail. (Every eight years, customers need to visit an office to get an updated photo). Customers can get a duplicate vehicle registration or title, and change/update their address and personal information. You can even join the organ donor registry, all from the comfort of your home, library, office or on the go.

ExpressSOS.com launched in 2011 and has conducted 9.6 million online transactions, saving customers the trip and avoiding the line.

Gift of Life, Eversight celebrate first national DMV Appreciation Week

LANSING, Mich. – Gift of Life Michigan and Eversight Michigan – the state’s organ, tissue and eye donation programs – took the week, September 19-23, 2016, to thank Secretary of State and Motor Vehicle Departments (DMVs) across the country for their partnership and commitment to asking the donation question to their customers every day.

“Our SOS partners are the people on the front lines of service who have helped register more than 4.3 million donors in Michigan and 130 million nationwide,” said Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan. “They are critical to the process.”

Diana Kern, executive director of Eversight Michigan, agreed. “The work the SOS clerks, managers and other staff do directly contributes to life-saving, life-improving transplants. We are so grateful for their support,” Kern said.

During the inaugural National DMV Appreciation Week, Gift of Life and Eversight staff and volunteers thanked SOS clerks, shared stories of employees touched by donation or transplantation and provided materials to celebrate the SOS’s contributions to saving lives. The concept for the week was created by Donate Life America, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and Donate Life State Teams committed to saving and healing lives through increased organ, eye and tissue donation.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson welcomed the accolades. “Our Department of State employees have embraced donation,” Johnson said. “We do so many important things, but contributing to the saving of a life or giving someone sight is one of the most fulfilling parts of the job.”

In Michigan, over 56 percent of adults are currently on the donor registry, compared to just 27 percent in 2011. “By asking customers if they would like to join the donor registry, our staff has taken the state from one of the worst registration rates in the country to one of the best, and we’re still not done,” Johnson said. Nationally, about 53 percent of adults are on the registry.

David Fleming of Donate Life America said SOS and DMV employees deserve recognition for the gains. “Even with advances in technology, the partnership remains a primary source of donor registrations,” said Fleming, Donate Life’s president and CEO. “We could not have reached this milestone of registered donors and lives saved without the partnership and support of SOS offices and DMVs.”

To register your decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor in the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, please go to GiftOfLifeMichigan.org or Michigan.gov/SOS.

Secretary of State seeks vendors that can deliver on a new computer system for driver and vehicle files
–Request for Proposal requires experience, finished project in other jurisdiction 

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is seeking a new vendor to build a computer system to replace one that’s been in place since the 1960s that serves offices around the state.

The new contract is needed after the state of Michigan sued Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPE) because it failed to deliver on a $49 million contract despite having 10 years to complete the project.

“We’re looking for a vendor to do what HP could not do:  Deliver,” Johnson explained. “Companies bidding for the contract will be required to show that they have an efficient, successful and proven system up and running for both driver and vehicle files.”

A new system will ensure accountability to taxpayers and allow Secretary of State staff to better serve customers because they’ll have easier access to both driver and vehicle records. It also will allow law enforcement to get information in real time and the department to implement legislative changes much more quickly. A new system will provide employees a better, faster and much more efficient system that is more customer-friendly.

The new contract is also expected to require an independent contractor to monitor and verify what’s produced throughout the project, and vendors won’t get paid until they deliver.

A request for proposal was issued today with proposals from interested companies expected back by Oct. 25. Details of the RFP are available at www.buy4michigan.com.

More information about the current failed contract is available here, here and here.

For more about the Secretary of State’s Office:
To find Secretary of State office locations and services, visit www.michigan.gov/sos. Sign up for the official Secretary of State Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/michsos and Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/michigansos. Online services are available at www.expresssos.com.

Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).

Secretary of State offices to host Harvest Gathering food drive collection sites

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today encouraged residents to donate nonperishable food at Secretary of State offices statewide as part of the 26th Annual Michigan Harvest Gathering food drive.

“All it takes to help your neighbor is a can of soup or a jar of peanut butter,” Johnson said. “Just bring these items to an area Secretary of State office. With that seemingly small gesture you are helping a local family to put food on their table when they otherwise might have gone hungry.”

Johnson thanked Secretary of State staff for making the food drive so successful every year. Since 2011, Secretary of State offices have collected almost 30 tons of food donations. The Secretary of State portion of the Harvest Gathering campaign runs through Nov. 23.

“The collaboration between Secretary of State offices in Michigan and the Michigan Harvest Gathering has provided valuable outreach to local communities in all 83 counties,” said Phillip Knight, executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan. “The Michigan Harvest Gathering is successful because of partnerships dedicated to making Michigan a food secure state.”

In Michigan, 16 percent of households struggle to put food on the table and 21 percent of children don’t know where their next meal will come from, according to the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The organization coordinates the program, which supplies the state’s regional food banks through donations of food and money. The regional food banks serve food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in every Michigan county.

In 2015, the entire Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign collected 300,000 pounds of food and more than $381,000. This year, the campaign’s goal is to collect enough food and funds for two million meals.

Nonperishable food items with a valid expiration date can be dropped off at any Secretary of State office.

Food items especially needed include canned meats, dry beans, soups, beef stew, pasta products, peanut butter and tuna. Other items include baby food or formula, diapers, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes. The Food Bank requests donors avoid items in glass, as they often break in transit. Financial donations may be made online at www.feedmichigan.org.

For more about the Secretary of State’s Office:
To find Secretary of State office locations and services, visit www.michigan.gov/sos. Sign up for the official Secretary of State Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/michsos and Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/michigansos. Online services are available at www.expresssos.com.

Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop ask: ‘Do you know what your children are doing online?’

Officials promote child protection registry to block unsuitable online ads

CLARKSTON, Mich. ‒ It’s summertime, which means more free time for kids to play with their smart phones, tablets and other electronic gadgets.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop want parents to know that there is an effective way to keep kids safe from adult-oriented online ads, even during those times when mom and dad can’t be present to supervise their child’s online activities.

It’s called the Michigan Child Protection Registry and Johnson and Bishop held a news conference today at the media center of Clarkston’s Renaissance High School to promote this valuable resource. The registry is a free and secure program housed on the Secretary of State website that families and schools can use to block adult-oriented ads for products like alcohol, tobacco, pornography and online gambling from reaching their children’s email inboxes, tablets, cell phones or instant messenger IDs.

“As much as we’d all like to, it is not possible to watch a child every minute of the day,” said Johnson, who has a teenage daughter. “It can be a struggle just to keep up with the new social media sites and online games our kids use. The ‘Protect MiChild’ website offers parents and caregivers a secure and simple way to put some controls in place regarding the Internet content their children see.”

Concerned parents or schools may register the electronic addresses for any devices children use at ProtectMiChild.com. The registry will block adult Internet ads for all registered contact points (such as an email address, smart phone number or instant messenger ID) for three years or until the youngest child with access to the contact point reaches the age of 18. Once the information has been entered into the registry, companies that send messages that advertise or link to prohibited products or services are required to remove the registered contact email, phone number or IM within 30 days from their mailing lists. Protect MiChild registrations may be renewed at any time for an additional three-year period.

Bishop originally sponsored the legislation that created the registry, introducing it when he was the Senate majority leader. He remains a strong advocate for greater Internet safety provisions for children, having introduced similar efforts in Congress.

“I’m the father of three, and like any parent, I can see the many ways children today rely on the Internet – for schoolwork, social media, mobile apps – you name it. That’s why it’s so important for all levels of leadership to ensure our kids are protected from inappropriate content when they go online,” Bishop said. “I was proud to introduce the Michigan Child Protection Registry during my time in the Michigan Senate, and I applaud Secretary of State Johnson for continuing to get the word out about this important tool. In Congress, I’ve remained focused on keeping kids safe, and I urge my colleagues in Lansing to continue and strengthen these efforts.”

June is the ideal month to promote the child protection registry because it is celebrated nationally as Internet Safety Month. Joining Johnson and Bishop at the news conference was Clarkston resident and mother Tonya Cunningham, who is the community organizer for the nonprofit Clarkston Coalition for Youth.

U.S Census figures from 2014 show that youth under the age of 18 comprise about 22 percent of the state’s population. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, teens spend an average of 2.3 hours per day engaged in electronic communication and recreation (surfing the Internet, playing video games, texting with friends, and viewing TV) and nearly twice as much time on the weekends. There are a number of Internet games, devices and services produced just for preschoolers.

“We are living in a digital age,” Johnson said. “To keep our children safe from influences and products that are not age appropriate requires action. The Protect MiChild Registry provides parents with the tools they need to help control the Internet content to which their children are exposed. It’s a great resource and I encourage parents and schools to use it to protect their kids.”

Visit the registry at ProtectMiChild.com.

A video message from Secretary Johnson about the Protect MiChild Registry is available on the Secretary of State website.

www.michigan.gov/sos

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson cautions customers to be wary of ‘phishy’ phone calls. 
Callers claiming to be state employees asking for credit card info

LANSING, Mich. – Secretary of State Ruth Johnson urges customers to take care when giving out information over the phone to anyone they do not know personally.

The Secretary of State’s Office is aware of instances in which a person claiming to be a state employee has called asking for credit card and Social Security information. Callers may use a technique known as “caller ID spoofing” so a phone’s caller ID displays a valid number of a Secretary of State office or another state agency. Scammers pretending to be a legitimate business or government agency is often referred to as “phishing.”

Johnson emphasized that the Secretary of State’s Office does not make unsolicited calls to customers asking for personal or financial information.

“Although alarming as this activity is, there are steps Michigan residents can take to protect themselves,” Johnson said. “Any legitimate agency welcomes the chance to verify whether a contact, either in person or by phone, was appropriate.”

In one case, a customer received a call from someone purporting to be an employee of the Alpena Secretary of State office. The caller ID showed a valid state number. The customer correctly hung up the phone and called to verify whether the call was legitimate.

Johnson offered the following tips to help prevent fraud and protect personal information:

• If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of the caller’s claim to be a Secretary of State employee, hang up and call the Department of State Information Center at 888-767-6424.

The Secretary of State’s Office will not:

• Call and ask for PINs, passwords or access to your bank account or credit card numbers
• Threaten to suspend your driver’s license or vehicle registration if you refuse to divulge personal or financial information
• Demand immediate payment to resolve a problem

If you suspect that the caller ID information displayed on your phone has been falsified, or you think the rules for protecting the privacy of your telephone number have been violated, you can file a complaint with the FCC. You have multiple options for filing a complaint with the FCC:

• File a complaint online
• By phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (225-5322); TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (835-5322); ASL Videophone: 1-844-432-2275
• By mail (please include your name, address, contact information and as much detail about your complaint as possible) to the Federal Communications Commission; Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau; Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division; 445 12th Street, S.W.; Washington, DC 20554

For more about the Secretary of State’s Office:

To find Secretary of State office locations and services, visit www.michigan.gov/sos. Sign up for the official Secretary of State Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/michsos and Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/michigansos. Online services are available at www.expresssos.com.

Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).