MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE

The first complaint involved Whitmer’s use of campaign funds to cover the cost of a chartered flight to Florida, while the second involved Whitmer accepting large campaign donations in response to several recall efforts. Whitmer’s campaign committee argued that an exception in the law allows candidates facing recall elections to raise more than is normally allowed. The Bureau of Elections determined that the donations were permitted under a longstanding interpretation of Michigan campaign finance law. Whitmer’s campaign said it plans to disburse donations it accepted over the typical limit since the recalls against her are no longer active. READ MORE ON MLIVE:Oversized donations to Whitmer prompt campaign finance complaintWhitmer’s blockbuster fundraising was fueled by jumbo donations over normal limitWhitmer’s Florida trip and Saturday night out irked Michiganders.

More than 10,000 residents completed Secretary of State transactions like renewing drivers’ licenses online and at self-service stations after the Michigan Department of State successfully updated its systems last month. The Secretary of State’s new online and transaction services include:Renewing or replacing an enhanced driver’s license or state ID if no new photo is required. Residents can renew or replace driver’s licenses and IDs at 135 self-service stations or online. Seven self-service stations are now in the area, with two more planned to come. Seven self-service stations have been placed in the area, with two more planned.

The Michigan Department of State will enable new online services for customers on March 16, 2021. The new system will allow you to do the following online:Renew or replace an enhanced driver’s license or state ID if no new photo requiredView the status of the requested driver’s license or state IDRequest and obtain a driving recordAdd a motorcycle endorsement to an eligible driver’s licenseAccess streamlined business services“Customers will now be able to renew or replace their driver’s licenses and IDs at any of our more than 130 new self-service stations across the state, and renew or replace their enhanced licenses and IDs online,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Branch appointments, online and self-service station transactions will be unavailable from 5 p.m. Thursday, March 11 to 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 16 while the system is brought online,” reads a statement from SOS. AdThe SOS said new self-service station transactions also will include:Renew a standard or enhanced driver’s license or state ID if no new photo requiredRequest a replacement and print out a temporary license or IDAdd a motorcycle endorsement to an eligible driver’s licenseSign up on the state’s organ donor registryLearn more about Secretary of State services at Michigan.gov/SOS. Dec. 15, 2020: Michigan SOS will expand online, self-service options in March: What to know

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of State announced Wednesday it will be providing resources to educate Michiganders facing homelessness about their voting rights. The outreach includes an online toolkit curated to provide accurate information about homelessness and voting, a webinar hosted in partnership with the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness and voter registration drives at shelters. "Our work to provide resources and information to voters in this community will help ensure they can vote with confidence that their ballot will count.”A new toolkit will dispel misconceptions and provide accurate voting information and guidance for homeless individuals. The department joined with the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness to promote voter education and registration. As part of this partnership, MDOS will join the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness and Communities First, Inc. to host a webinar aimed at educating homelessness advocacy organizations in how to assist their clients with voter registration, early voting and getting to the polls on Election Day.

DETROIT – Secretary of State mailings are expected to register more than 100,000 citizens as voters, based on current responses to the letters and upcoming registration deadlines. “Michigan citizens want to vote. These mailers invited recipients to register to vote by going online or by returning the enclosed card to the Secretary of State. Approximately 130,000 of the citizens who received a letter conducted a transaction at a Secretary of State branch office after automatic voter registration was required by the state constitution but before it had been implemented. Together, these programs are on track to result in more than 100,000 newly registered Michigan citizens, based on voters who registered online, registered by returning the mailing, or are being registered automatically.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Adaptive Energy, an Ann Arbor fuel-cell manufacturer turned personal protective equipment manufacturer, has donated PPE to the Michigan Department of State ahead of the November election. The $57,000 donation comes in the form of hand sanitizer, touchless door openers and face shields for polling places and election offices. The PPE is intended to help protect election workers and voters who visit polling places and election offices from the coronavirus (COVID-19). In March, the fuel-cell manufacturer switched to making PPE with its 30 members team in Ann Arbor. Edison and Adaptive Energy owner Ranvir Gujral established Arbor Apothecary to make intubation boxes and medical face shields.

ANN ARBOR – The 14A, 14B and 15th District Courts are offering an amnesty program for outstanding traffic civil infractions through Oct. 30. The program aims to help those who have outstanding tickets or suspensions get a valid license by potentially reducing their ticket rates. Anyone who was issued a traffic civil infraction prior to Dec. 31, 2018 under the following jurisdictions:14A District Courts: 14A-1 Pittsfield, 14A-2 Ypsilanti, 14A-3 Chelsea or 14A-4 SalineThe 14B District Court Ypsilanti TownshipThe 15th District Court City of Ann ArborHow does it work? To find out if your tickets are eligible for the amnesty program, check the following websites or call the court:✉ Like what you’re reading? Here are the numbers for each court:14A-1: 734-971-605014A-4: 734-429-250414A-2: 734-484-669014B: 734-483-530014A-3: 734-475-860615th: 734-794-6750It is important to note that the 14A, 14B and the 15th District Courts are separate District Courts and payments must be made to your specific court location.

DETROIT The Michigan Department of State and the Attorney Generals office are working to find the source of a robocall received by a Detroit resident that used racially-charged stereotypes to deter voting by mail. Officials are warning residents to be vigilant against misinformation, which is expected to become more prevalent in the coming weeks. READ: Identity thieves are targeting absentee votersThis is an unconscionable, indefensible, blatant attempt to lie to citizens about their right to vote, said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. This is an unfortunate, but perfect example of just how low people will go to undermine this election, Nessel said. This robocall is fraught with scare tactics designed to intimidate Black voters and we are already working hard to find the bad actors behind this effort.

LANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of State has finished reviewing and processing the 9,367 completed and notarized applications submitted to serve on Michigans first Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, with more than 2,000 applications processed within the last two weeks. On Wednesday an independent accounting firm will conduct the random drawing of the 200 semi-finalists for the commission. Wednesdays random drawing will narrow the more than 9,000 applications down to 200 semi-finalists whose applications will be posted online. The final selection for the 13 commissioners 4 Republicans, 4 Democrats and 5 unaffiliated will take place in August. For a detailed breakdown of the final applicant pool, visit RedistrictingMichigan.org.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) will temporarily lay off more than 900 members of its staff starting Sunday, according to a news release. READ: Coronavirus in Michigan: What to do while Secretary of State branch offices are closed“This is an extremely challenging time for our state, our state government, and our department,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Most of them are staff who typically work in Secretary of State branch offices, which are currently closed. All laid off MDOS employees will be automatically enrolled in the state’s unemployment system. Many driver and vehicle transactions can be done online or at self-service stations located in grocery stores across the state.

The suspension is in effect until the dealership provides records for inspection, according to state officials. A Frenchtown Township car dealership has had its license to operate suspended by a state agency. The Michigan Department of State announced Friday that Ultimate Auto Sale of Monroe, 6366 N. Telegraph Rd., is not allowed to operate until it provides records related to cars sold at the dealership earlier this year. Attempts to contact Ultimate Auto Sale of Monroe, which is owned by Paul Francis Jr., were unsuccessful. The suspension is in effect until the dealership provides records for inspection.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of State released the 2020 presidential primary candidate list Friday. Under state law, the Secretary of State is required to issue a list of individuals “generally advocated by the national news media to be potential presidential candidates” for the Republican and Democratic parties for the presidential primary election. The Michigan presidential primary will be March 10, 2020. In addition to the presidential primary, residents in some communities also may be voting on local ballot proposals or for special elections to fill vacancies. More information on ballot access for presidential candidates is available on the Department of State website.