DECEMBER 18, 2006

Department of State '06 accomplishments
reflect 4th year of Land's focus on service

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land continued her departmentwide focus on providing excellent service to the people of Michigan in 2006. For the fourth year in a row, Land and her team have successfully transformed new ideas and technologies into new advantages and conveniences for drivers, voters and other customers.

"Exceptional service at the Department of State is not just a goal," Land said. "It's our promise to you. I'm pleased to report that we're continuing to improve the convenience of our programs, the efficiency of our operations and the safety of our citizens. But we're not through yet. In the months ahead, we'll put more ideas into action that will raise the level of customer service even higher."

Expanding online and automated services, implementing new voting equipment for members of the disability community, consolidating office space to save tax dollars, strengthening the state's driver education program and reaching the goal of 1 million names on the state's organ donor registry are just some of this year's achievements.

Highlights of the department's 2006 accomplishments include:

PROVIDING QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Expanding the Self-Service Station program to additional locations including government centers to offer greater access to the fast and easy tab renewal machines.
• Introducing the Dealer Direct Program, which gives customers the option of purchasing plates and tabs when buying a new car at participating dealerships.
• Encouraging greater use of Internet services for customer convenience. There were 125,000 more online renewals in fiscal year 2006 than in fiscal year 2005. From 2003 to 2006, online renewals skyrocketed 210 percent. That means more people are taking advantage of this timesaving option and fewer customers are in branch offices.
• Piloting a program in which cash ATMs are available for customer use at 30 branch offices, with plans to expand the program to additional branch offices.
• Offering document certification at the Grand Rapids Area SUPER!Center, which allows West Michigan residents to avoid having to travel or mail to Lansing for help.

ENSURING A STRONG ELECTIONS SYSTEM

• Successfully implementing optical scan technology statewide, which alerts voters to errors, allows faster counting and reporting of election results, and provides a paper audit trail.
• Providing specially designed voting equipment at every polling place that allows voters with disabilities to cast their ballot in privacy and without assistance.
• Instituting a new electronic filing system for lobbyists called E-Lobby, allowing users to submit reports online instead of mailing or hand-delivering them and providing faster public disclosure of important information.

PUTTING TECHNOLOGY TO WORK

• Creating an online Branch Office Locator, which allows customers to pinpoint the nearest branch office and obtain information by entering their ZIP code, city or county.
• Securing federal dollars to expand a pilot program and install automated testing kiosks in 28 offices, reducing the possibility of commercial driver's license (CDL) testing fraud.

MAKING SMART FINANCIAL DECISIONS

• Consolidating staff from leased office space in Southfield to the Cadillac Place Building in Detroit and leased space in Livonia, which is saving the state approximately $125,000 in annual costs.

IMPROVING SAFETY FOR ALL

• Working with the Legislature to pass the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act, which brings consistency and many improvements to Michigan's driver ed program.
• Joining with other safety advocates to launch the "Be Safe, Be Seen" campaign, designed to reduce accidents among motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Teaming with the Michigan Pharmacists Association on the "Use Caution, Drive Safely" campaign to warn motorists against driving while drowsy from medication.

WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES

• Promoting organ donation and reaching the goal of 1 million names on the state's donor registry, a record level of participation by residents.
• Recording the 100,000th abandoned vehicle cleared from roads and communities under the new Abandoned Vehicle Law, which Secretary Land championed.

RELATED LINKS
> Comprehensive list of initiatives and accomplishments 
> Michigan.gov/sos