Wait times are decreasing at local Secretary of State offices due to new technology, but many people may not know it. At least two more offices in Grand Rapids now offer what’s called “My-Time-Line”. We spoke with Secretary of State Ruth Johnson.
“It’s important for government to realize that the public’s time is just as important as anybody else’s and we need to continue to address that and make so it people don’t have to wait in line any longer than absolutely necessary.”
That’s Michigan Secretary Of State Ruth Johnson. She acknowledges wait times can be long but says the Mi-Time-Line service should help. Announced yesterday, two more offices in the Grand Rapids area are using technology that allows you to either call in or use the web to secure a place in line, without being there.
“And you just merely call, or go online, mi.gov\mytimeline. Or you can it with your phone and we’ll tell you how long the wait it. So let’s say it’s a busy day and the wait’s an hour, so instead of standing in line you check in with your phone. And you can go to the library, wait at home do whatever you want to do, you don’t have to stand in line.”
Johnson says so far 18 branches of the 131 branches offer MI Time Line, but she says they serve at least a third of the state’s population. The move is one way she says, to address cuts in staff.
“We’re down 25% staff from where we were a decade ago.”
Secretary of State Offices in Kent County that offer mi time line include the location at 3472 Plainfield, 1056 Rogers Plaza in Wyoming and the SuperCEnter on 28th street which started last year.
