PRESS RELEASES from Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson
August 24, 2012

The 2012 "ExpressSOS" Voter Registration Drive to kick off Aug. 28

Secretary of State mobile office visits campuses, community centers

LANSING, Mich. – The Secretary of State's mobile office will hit the road next week as part of a far-reaching voter registration drive to colleges, universities and community centers across the state, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today.

Dubbed the "2012 ExpressSOS Voter Registration Drive," the tour will also help publicize the Secretary of State's new online services at ExpressSOS.com.

"Voting is a fundamental freedom and we want everyone who wants to do so to cast a ballot on Election Day," said Johnson. "Our mobile office will be a convenient way for community members and college students to get registered so they can have their vote count, their voice heard."

The deadline to vote in the Nov. 6 general election is Oct. 9.

To date, the mobile office tour includes stops at 20 different colleges and community centers, though more dates are expected to be added. The tour starts in the Upper Peninsula with a visit to Lake Superior State University on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ferris State University officials were pleased to be a part of the tour.

"The Division of Student Affairs is honored to host the Secretary of State's voter registration tour at Ferris State University," said Leroy Wright, Ferris' Dean of Student Life. "We value all opportunities to civically engage our students in learning about current issues in our society, increasing their knowledge of the candidates running for positions, and exercising their right to cast their vote on Election Day 2012."

Johnson said the new voter registration drive will supplement other efforts to register new voters, including:


Johnson said she hopes some of the new technology adopted by the department will also attract new and young voters, including a new mobile version of the state's online Michigan Voter Information Center. Smart phone users can use their phone to see a sample ballot, find their voting location and ensure they are registered to vote. The state also launched an iPhone app earlier this year – called the Michigan Campaign Finance Search – so smart phone users could access campaign contribution records.

In addition to voter registration, the mobile office serves as a full-service branch office so customers will be able to change their address, renew their driver's license, get their tabs or perform any other Secretary of State services.

Staff will be available to answer questions about voter ID, absentee ballots, locating a sample ballot and finding their polling place.

ExpressSOS.com, launched in October, continues to offer the most popular Secretary of State services online. Already, more than 1.5 million ExpressSOS.com transactions have been successfully handled.

"That means more than a million people didn't have to drive to our office, park, take a number and wait in line," said Johnson. "Customers love it. It really is our no-wait Secretary of State."

Residents are also encouraged to visit www.ExpressSOS.com to conduct business online. For more information about 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.

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 Gisgie Dávila Gendreau at 517-373-2520.
 

The 2012 ExpressSOS Voter Registration Drive Events
(Visits are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. unless otherwise noted.)
 

Lake Superior State University
Aug. 28
Visitors Lot D

Northern Michigan University
Aug. 29
Academic Mall

Michigan Technological University
Aug. 30
Memorial Union Building

Oakland Community College
Sept. 4
Main building

Oakland University
Sept. 5-6
Oakland Center student union - indoors

University of Michigan – Dearborn
Sept. 7
University Center

Ferris State University
Sept. 10
Circle Drive

Central Michigan University
Sept. 11
Bovee University Center

Saginaw Valley State University
Sept. 12
Courtyard near Wickes Hall

University of Michigan – Flint
Sept. 13 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kearsley Street

Michigan State University
Sept. 14
Location to be determined

Kellogg Community College
Sept. 17 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Circle Drive
 
Grand Valley State University
Sept. 18
Academic mall near Au Sable Hall

Western Michigan University
Sept. 19
Flagpoles at center campus

Macomb Community College
Sept. 24
Dimitry Student Center - indoors

Wayne State University
Sept. 25
Gullen Mall

Eastern Michigan University
Sept. 27
Student Center

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Sept. 28
Michigan League circle drive

Wayne Community Center
Oct. 1
4635 Howe Road
Wayne, MI 48184
Lobby

Allen Park Community Center
Oct. 2
15800 White Avenue
Allen Park, MI 48101
Lobby – indoors


 

September 13, 2012
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson in Middle East to help remove election barriers for service men and women

LANSING, Mich. – Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is in the Middle East this week meeting with U.S. military men and women serving there to learn how to best ensure they can cast their votes with confidence back home.

"We must ensure that the men and women protecting this country by serving overseas can vote on Election Day," Johnson said. "Not just in federal elections, but in local and state elections that really matter to them and their families back home."

The week-long trip, hosted by the U.S. Navy and the Federal Voting Assistance Program, began Saturday and will include Kuwait and Qatar stops at military installations and U.S. embassies as well as shipboard visits.

Johnson, who shared her experiences by video on Skype, said she's talked to brave men and women from all over Michigan. Johnson personally hauled nearly 50 pounds of gifts, including playing cards and American flags, to give to the troops.

One surprise during her trip was to hear the troops' enthusiasm for ExpressSOS.com to access Secretary of State's most-popular online services. She said they have used it to renew their driver's licenses and access other services.

"We don't like to get in the car and drive for 10 to 15 minutes and stand in line for 15 minutes," Johnson said. "Just think when you're over on this side of the world. They really appreciate our ExpressSOS.com."

Johnson said she has so much pride in the U.S. military members and admires their hard work, sacrifice and commitment. They're away from their families for months and live in harsh conditions, including temperatures as high as 120 degrees, high humidity and even sandstorms.

"They have tough conditions over here," said Johnson. "They don't complain.

"I don't know how they do it," Johnson added. "Many of them have volunteered to be here. They know it's in our best interest nationally. They take great pride and they are true patriots."

Johnson said the trip has only made her commitment to these men and women stronger, saying: "I can't think of anybody more deserving than the people serving this country than to have their vote count."

With Johnson on the trip were secretaries of state from Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Nevada.

Johnson has, since her days as Oakland County Clerk, been committed to ensuring that overseas military members and their families have the opportunity to participate in the very system they are protecting.

In 2009, as the Oakland County Clerk, she founded OPERATION: OUR TROOPS COUNT with the Wayne and Macomb county clerks. They successfully fought for changes in the law to give overseas voters more time to return their ballots to be counted on Election Day. How? By allowing ballots to be securely emailed to those voters, cutting mailing time in half. This also allowed local communities to save overseas mailing and postage costs.

Her belief is that overseas voters, especially our country's military members, who put their lives on the line to protect America's freedoms, must be able to participate in one of those most fundamental freedoms – voting – here at home.

Since becoming Michigan Secretary of State, Johnson has continued those efforts by:

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Editor's Note: To view excerpts from the Skype conversation with Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T15jbH-UydU.

For media questions, please call Gisgie Dávila Gendreau at 517-373-2520.