AUGUST 22, 2011

New campaign finance Twitter feed links candidates, committees to latest news

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today that the Bureau of Elections is launching a Twitter account to alert candidates, committees and those interested in campaign finance of reports detailing campaign contributions and expenditures.

"I am pleased to announce the creation of the campaign finance Twitter feed," said Johnson, Michigan's top elections official. "This provides us with one more avenue to provide information regarding upcoming campaign finance deadlines, helpful tips, software updates and alerts about upcoming training sessions. I encourage everyone running for office or interested in campaign finance to sign up today."

Those interested should sign up for the MichCFR Twitter feed. More detailed information will be provided, as always, on the Michigan Secretary of State's elections website at www.Michigan.gov/elections.

Changes to the Michigan Campaign Finance Act and campaign finance training sessions will be included in the feed at www.twitter.com/MichCFR, as will MERTS Plus software updates. MERTS is the Michigan Electronic Reporting and Tracking System, which allows state-level committees to file required campaign finance statements electronically over the Internet or other removable medium like a flash drive or CD.

The Secretary of State's office also operates a separate Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Michsos, which features news and alerts on upcoming elections, renewing

license plate tabs and driver's licenses, Michigan Organ Donor Registry and other services provided by the department. There is also a Michigan Secretary of State Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Michigansos.

"I'm excited to see how much this office has grown when it comes to social media," Johnson said. "We're using every tool at our disposal to provide our customers with the latest news and information, and we're making it easily accessible in a variety of formats."

For information about branch office locations and additional services, visit the Secretary of State website (www.Michigan.gov/sos) and sign up for Facebook updates (www.facebook.com/Michigansos).

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

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For media questions, please call Tracy Ward at (517) 373-2520.

Related Link
> http://twitter.com/#!/michcfr