LANSING, MI-- State Sen. Ed McBroom on Friday urged Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to reopen local branch offices for walk-in service.
On Thursday, McBroom testified before the House Oversight Committee about problems his constituents have experienced. Other officials, including former secretary of state, Sen. Ruth Johnson, also provided testimony.
“Michigan is reopening, and that is great because people are getting back to work and returning to a more normal way of life,” said McBroom, R-Waucedah Township. “Unfortunately, the secretary of state’s office has thus far refused to allow people to come in for walk in service. Scheduling an appointment with the SOS is great if doing so fits a person’s needs but that is not always the case and the state can’t assume that it does.
“As it is right now, the average wait time for an appointment is three to five months. That’s not acceptable. People aren’t expecting such a delay when they try to schedule service, especially since there’s not been a problem like this in the past. By the time they get an appointment things like licenses and plate tabs may have already expired, which brings its own problems. For U.P. residents in particular, it is also not a given that people have the connectivity to book an appointment online and there are issues with getting an appointment over the phone.
“Now is not the time to make such a disruptive, wholesale change to a system that has generally worked fine the way it is.”
McBroom said those who do not have computer access should call 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424)
