Tag Archives: Secretary of State

Wyoming, Kentwood area Secretary of State branch offices to reopen June 1 by appointment only

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The State of Michigan’s Secretary of State branch offices will reopen on June 1. (WKTV)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

The State of Michigan Secretary of State’s office announced May 28 that currently closed branch offices will reopen June 1 “by appointment only for essential transactions not available online.

“While the offices were closed to the public we conducted more than 3,000 emergency appointments for essential workers and planned and implemented protocols so that we could reopen in a way that ensures the safety of employees and all Michiganders,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in supplied material. “Customers can be confident they’ll be able to conduct their business with us safely and efficiently.”

Beginning the week of June 1, all 131 branch offices in Michigan — including two in the Wyoming and Kentwood area — will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for appointment-only services for transactions including: driver licenses and state ID transactions that must be done in person; title transfers; operator, CDL, chauffeur, mechanic and motorcycle testing; and seasonal commercial vehicle renewal.

The Wyoming branch office is located at 1056 Rogers Plaza SW, and the Kentwood area branch office is located at 3601 28th St. SE.

According to the Secretary of State’s announcement, branch staff will follow strict health and safety protocols, including wearing masks, standing six feet apart, using desk shields, and continuously disinfecting shared or common surfaces. Branch doors will be locked, and each branch will have a greeter to let customers with appointments in at scheduled appointment times.

In addition to preparing to reopen branches, the Michigan Department of State began sending updated renewal forms this week, color-coded based on the type of transaction needed and with streamlined information to explain how best to conduct the transaction.

 

To schedule an appointment visit Michigan.gov/SOS or call 888-SOS-MICH. Advance appointments can be made up to 180 days ahead of time. Same-day appointments become available 24 hours prior to the appointment time.

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you ought to know — weekend edition

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By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.

Indira Gandhi

Dawning of a new era

During a Presidents Day weekend closure, the Michigan Department of State will replace the outdated vehicle records system Secretary of State offices have used for decades with a modern computer system to better serve customers. More info here.

They who drink beer…

There will be no shortage of beer related activities starting Friday, Feb. 15, when Beer Month GR begins its annual month-long celebration of craft beer brewing and drinking all across the greater Grand Rapids area. More info here.

Get your groove on

KDL’s vinyl collection, KDL Grooves, launches on Record Store Day (Saturday, April 13, 2019), but you can get an early taste at the launch party on Feb. 16th. Here’s the scoop.

Fun fact:

Blame it on the cows

During Prohibition, moonshiners would wear “cow shoes.” The fancy footwear left hoofprints instead of footprints, helping distillers and smugglers evade police.


Doubtful this fashion statement would catch on in today’s world.


Or would it?


Where’s Alexander McQueen when you need him?

Secretary of State upgrading computer system during Presidents Day weekend closure

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By State of Michigan


During a Presidents Day weekend closure, the Michigan Department of State will replace the outdated vehicle records system Secretary of State offices have used for decades with a modern computer system to better serve customers.


The Customer and Automotive Records System (CARS) will add new online options, improve existing online and kiosk services, and give staff a more efficient tool to process transactions.


New online options will include ordering license plates, renewing snowmobile registrations and ordering a Recreation Passport and replacement tab for a plate. Many transactions for auto dealers, repair facilities, mechanics and driver education instructors and providers also will be possible online.


During the upgrade, Secretary of State branch offices, online services and auto business transactions will be offline and unavailable from 5pm Friday, Feb. 15, until 9am Tuesday, Feb. 19. Self-service kiosks will be taken offline in phases beginning Friday, Feb. 8. The seven Super Centers usually open Saturday will be closed Saturday, Feb. 16. All branches will be closed on Presidents Day (Monday, Feb. 18).


For a few weeks, as staff gets accustomed to the new computer system, service in offices may take longer. Customers are encouraged to use CARS e-Services at ExpressSOS.com or to complete their transactions outside this timeframe.


Late fees will be waived for transactions with expiration dates between Feb. 11 and March 2.


“This is a vital project for our department and its millions of customers and the first step in implementing our 30-minute guarantee,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said. “When fully implemented, the new system will transform our technology, making our work more efficient and our service to customers better than before.”


After the vehicle records phase, the driver records system will be replaced over the next two years.


For more information, visit Michigan.gov/SOS.

Secretary of State offices to be closed for Presidents Day

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Secretary of State BannerSecretary of State Ruth Johnson reminds residents that all branch offices and the Office of the Great Seal will be closed in observance of Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 15. So, make sure to plan your responsibilities accordingly!

 

The Secretary of State’s Office mails notices to motorists 45 days before their driver’s license or license plates expire to give them ample time to renew.  Licenses and plates that expire on a day when state offices are closed, such as a holiday or weekend, can be renewed the following day without penalty.

 

Most people renewing license plates, driver’s licenses and ID cards can do business online at www.ExpressSOS.com or by mail.  Easy to follow instructions can be found with the renewal notice. Additional services can be done online as well.

 

License plate tabs can also be renewed at Self-Service Stations, many of which are available around the clock. Visit the Branch Office Locator at www.michigan.gov/SOS to find a Self-Service Station near you.

 

With the exception of holidays, offices are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Smaller offices may close for the lunch hour. On Wednesdays most offices are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with those in city centers open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  PLUS offices and SUPER!Centers are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.  SUPER!Centers also provide Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to noon.

Secretary of State Offices will be Closed for Christmas and New Year’s Holidays

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Ruth_Johnson[1]
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson
By Secretary of State Ruth Johnson
(with a little help from Victoria Mullen)

Hey, State workers are people, too, and they deserve holidays off just like the rest of us. So here’s a heads up to take care of any Secretary of State business (i.e., renewing driver’s licenses, ID cards, license plates, etc.) before the holidays. The closures are:

  • Thursday, Dec. 24, Friday, Dec. 25, and SUPER!Centers will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 26 for Christmas.
  • Thursday, Dec. 31, Friday, Jan. 1, and SUPER!Centers will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 2 for New Year’s.

(See what we did there? Festive, no?)

You know the drill: The Department of State mails notices to motorists 45 days before their driver’s license or license plates expire to give them ample time to renew. Licenses and plates that expire on a day when state offices are closed, such as a holiday or weekend, can be renewed the following day without penalty.

Most people renewing license plates, driver’s licenses and ID cards can do business online at www.ExpressSOS.com or by mail. Easy-to-follow instructions can be found with the renewal notice. Additional services can be done online, too.

License plate tabs can be renewed at Self-Service Stations, many of which are available around the clock. Visit the Branch Office michigan license platesLocator at www.michigan.gov/SOS to find a Self-Service Station near you.

With the exception of holidays, offices are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Smaller offices may close for the lunch hour. On Wednesdays most offices are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with those in city centers open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PLUS offices and SUPER!Centers are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. SUPER!Centers also provide Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to noon.

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).

Save Your Time Using MI-TIME

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A visit to the SoS is no longer a call for SOS!
A visit to the SoS is no longer a call for SOS!

“I can’t wait for my visit to the Secretary of State!” – Said no one, ever.

A visit to the Secretary of State is a mystery and a hassle. It’s impossible to know exactly how long the wait will be or what to expect upon arrival. A trip to renew a drivers’ license was seen as a burden with no sense of convenience… until the Secretary of State introduced MI-TIME back in February of 2014.

The popular “get-in-line-online” service was installed in the 10 busiest offices around the state starting in February 2014. The revolutionary service was added to eight more offices late this summer, boosting the number of users to 2 million. For the first time at Secretary of State offices, customers now can make appointments for transactions.

MI-Time Line“Customers love this service because it’s all about convenience,” stated Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. “You can sign up for an appointment online, by phone or from the office, and then go about your business until it’s almost your turn. The feedback has been tremendous.”

About that feedback, one happy customer took to social media to call MI-TIME Line, “The greatest idea, since the bottle opener, is the online wait-in-line function at the @MichSoS. 13 minutes and out the door.”

When you sign into MI-TIME Line, it estimates your wait time, and if you have a phone or texting capability, the system will call or text you when your turn is coming up. You can also ask for more time if you’re not ready to come into the office when alerted.

When a transaction must be made in person, such as first-time license application or a title transfer, you can save time by going to an office that offers the MI-TIME Line service. Customers can get in line online in Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Oakland and Wayne county.

You can find out specific MI-TIME Line locations here. If the service isn’t offered in your area, the Branch Office Locator will show you locations and hours of operation for nearby Secretary of State offices.

Secretary of State Offices to close on Thanksgiving Holiday

Holidays, Upcoming Events, , ,

Secretary of State - Happy ThanksgivingA quick reminder that all offices and the Office of the Great Seal will be closed during Thanksgiving this upcoming week.

All offices will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and on Friday, November 27. SUPER!Centers will be closed on Saturday, November 28 as well.

Don’t worry if you need to renew any license plates or driver’s license over the weekend. The Department of State mails notices to motorists 45 days before those expire to give ample time to renew. If your license or license plates are set to expire on a date when the state offices are closed, like a holiday or weekend, they can be renewed the following business day without penalty.

Great seal State of MichiganMost people renewing license plates, driver’s licenses and ID cards can do business online at www.ExpressSOS.com or by mail. Online users renewing their tabs, driver’s license or ID card will find the system’s “Print ‘N Go feature” beneficial. It allows them to complete their transaction, print off a receipt and carry the receipt until their tabs, license or ID card arrives in the mail. Easy to follow instructions can be found with the renewal notice. Additional services can be done online as well. License plate tabs can also be renewed at Self-Service Stations, many of which are available around the clock. Visit the Branch Office Locator at www.michigan.gov/sos to find a Self-Service Station near you.

With the exception of holidays, offices are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Smaller offices may close for the lunch hour. On Wednesdays, most offices 
are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with those in city centers open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PLUS offices
and SUPER!Centers are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. SUPER!Centers also provide Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to noon.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank a Veteran on Veteran’s Day

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Veterans' Day graphicSecretary of State Ruth Johnson reminds residents that, in honor of Veterans Day, all Secretary of State offices and the Office of the Great Seal will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11. She also encouraged people to thank veterans for their service and sacrifice.

“I had a rare opportunity to visit our troops in the Middle East in 2012 to study how to make overseas voting easier for those in the military,” Johnson said. “I will never forget the sense of honor, duty and patriotism that those young men and women displayed in spite of the terrible conditions. We owe everyone who has ever served this country a great debt for their service and sacrifice.”

Michigan is home to more than 680,000 veterans, the 11th largest population nationally. Given the great number of veterans who live here, Johnson has unveiled a number of initiatives in support of them:

•    Creating a veteran designation on driver’s licenses and state ID cards that helps identify Michigan veterans so they can be connected with the benefits they have earned and deserved.
•    Pushing new ways to ensure that military personnel have their votes counted on Election Day, such as successfully advocating to extend a federal write-in ballot to state and local races.
•    Waiving road tests for veterans applying for a Commercial Driver License to help their transition to civilian life if they have sufficient heavy truck experience in the military.
•    Offering more than two dozen military license plates that are available for veterans and their spouses, allowing them to display their service with pride.

“Patriotism and service run deep in Michigan,” Johnson added. “This Veterans Day, take a moment to thank a vet for his or her service.”

Because of the Veterans Day closure, Johnson recommends residents find alternate ways or days to get their Secretary of State business done.

Grand Valley State University hosts Secretary of State Mobile Office

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Grand Valley State UniversitySecretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today that the Mobile Office is offering voter registration and other services during a stop at Grand Valley State University in Allendale on Wednesday, Oct. 14 and Thursday, Oct. 15.

“College students often have questions about where to register to vote or how to get an absentee ballot,” Johnson said. “For these reasons I encourage students to stop by the Mobile Office while it’s on campus. In addition, they, as well as faculty, staff and members of the public, are welcome to come by to take care of any business they may have with the Secretary of State’s office.”

The Mobile Office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. near the Translink statue by the Arboretum, 1 W. Campus Drive, Allendale.

Mobile Voter Trailer“It’s important that we bring the Mobile Secretary of State Office to campus because it gives more students access to reliable, convenient voter registration information,” said Maddie Cleghorn, president of the GVSU Student Senate. “Students are much more likely to engage in the democratic process if the resource is on campus, because it eliminates the step of actually driving to an office. With 2016 coming up as such an important election year, I think it is our responsibility to make sure students have access to the tools that will help them become engaged, informed voters.”

The Mobile Office is a full-service office and visitors can take care of other Secretary of State business at this event, including renewing driver’s licenses, getting instant titles or joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

Don’t forget to visit the online Michigan Voter Information Center, a single, comprehensive source designed for voter convenience at www.Michigan.gov/vote . The site contains sample ballots, as well as information on absentee ballots, polling locations, voting systems and candidates. A mobile version is also available.

Don’t Forget About Voter Registration!

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Register_to_VoteEvery vote counts!

It’s a phrase that’s said with power by every politician leading up to an election. Your vote counts, so make sure you hit the ballots and let your voice be heard!

However, what’s often not voiced as loudly is the need to REGISTER in order to vote. Here’s your friendly reminder to register!

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is commemorating today, Tuesday, September 22, as National Voter Registration Day by calling eligible voters in Michigan to get registered or update their information.

“Registering to vote is fast and easy, and it’s the best way to celebrate our democracy,” Johnson said. “National Voter Registration Day reminds eligible voters to get registered – or change their address – now so they can not only vote in the local elections on November 3, but also in the presidential election in 2016.”

In order to vote in the November local elections, voters must be registered by October 5.

The Secretary of State Mobile Office will be making several stops at colleges and universities throughout the State to encourage voter registration from students. Northwestern Community College in Traverse City is the first stop on the tour.

Here are some other ways to participate in National Voter Registration Month:

• Get registered to vote. You can do so in five easy steps.
• Update your information. This is essential if you’ve recently moved, changed your name, or had voting rights restored. You can make the changes when you update the address on your driver’s license or ID card – either online or at an SOS branch. You can also fill out a Michigan voter registration/change of address form and mail it in.
• Sign up for election reminders. You can subscribe to the Secretary of State newsletter.
• Use social media to spread the word. On Twitter and Facebook, send friends here, which has helpful information about how to register and where and when to vote. On Sept. 22, use the hashtag #CelebraeNVRD.

Are you wondering if you’re already registered? You can find out on the SOS site.