Welcome to the Department of State News Center

• Secretary Benson requests attorney general opinion on changes to state's initiative and referendum process

  

  Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson delivered a letter to Attorney General Dana Nessel requesting a formal opinion on the constitutionality of several changes to Michigan’s initiative and referendum process.

  The changes were passed by the Legislature and signed by then-Gov. Rick Snyder as Public Act 608 in the last days of 2018.

  “I am proud that, for more than a century, Michiganders have exercised core constitutional rights . . .

  ---

   

• Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson files brief in League of Women Voters vs. State of Michigan

  In response to an existing motion to stay the trial in the pending litigation between the League of Women Voters (the Plaintiffs) and the State of Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today filed a brief in concurrence to stay the trial currently scheduled for Feb. 5, 2019, so that she may reach a consent agreement with the Plaintiffs.

  The full brief states in part  . . .

  ---

   

• Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson names additional members of leadership team

  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  . . .

  ---

   

• Secretary of State office in Holland to close for remodeling Jan. 22-25

  

  The Ottawa County PLUS Secretary of State office will close for a few days later this month for a remodeling project, and customers are encouraged to complete their transactions online at ExpressSOS.com or at an alternative branch office.

  The office at 587 E. Eighth St. in Holland will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 21, and will remain closed until . . .

  ---

   

• Convenient, speedy Secretary of State services available at Detroit's Auto Show

  Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today announced that the North American International Auto Show in Detroit will include a temporary branch office available to all visitors.

  “As part of our commitment to providing you with services quickly, we are pleased to have the Secretary of State Mobile Office on location at Cobo Center throughout the entire public auto show,” Benson said. “Come by our booth and cruise through getting your business done on location.”

  The world-class North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center features . . .

  . . .

  ---

   

• Secretary of State Benson tours Selfridge Air National Guard Base as one of first official acts

  Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson visited Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township on Thursday, Jan. 3, as one of her first official acts in office, underscoring her plans to provide better service to our nation’s military.

  “I was honored to spend the morning of my second day in office visiting our service members at Selfridge,” Benson said. “Our conversations with military officials and personnel are very helpful as we plan to improve our systems to better serve . . .

  ---

   

• Secretary Benson applauds Whitmer directives on transparency

  Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today applauded Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on signing a series of executive directives designed to bring a new level of transparency and ethics to state government.

  “The Center for Public Integrity has consistently ranked Michigan last among the states when it comes to transparency and accountability,” Benson said today. “I wholeheartedly support Governor Whitmer . . .

  ---

   

• Jocelyn Benson Sworn-in As Michigan's 43rd Secretary of State

  Calling it the greatest honor of her life, Jocelyn Benson today became Michigan’s 43rd Secretary of State in ceremonies at the State Capitol in Lansing. 

  Administering the oath of office before thousands of onlookers, including her husband and two-year-old son, was her mentor retired Sixth Circuit Court Judge Damon J. Keith. Benson came to Michigan to clerk for Keith, who later presided over Benson and Friedrichs wedding on Belle Isle in Detroit . . .

  ---