Mobile Office touring state universities offering full services

LANSING, Mich. – Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today that the Mobile Office will stop at three Upper Peninsula universities next week to offer voter registration and other services to students, staff and area residents.

The stops are part of the 3,000-mile 2016 Voter Registration Drive, which includes visits to 18 universities and colleges statewide.

“Our Mobile Office brings voter registration to you, right on campus, making it easy for students to ask questions about the voting process,” Johnson said. “Students, faculty, staff and other residents can also renew license plate tabs or driver’s licenses, change their address or take care of any other business they may have with the Secretary of State’s office.”

During its latest round of stops, the Mobile Office will visit:

• Michigan Technological University from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19, outside the Memorial Union Building;
• Northern Michigan University from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21 on the Academic Mall;
• Lake Superior State University from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Student Center.

“College students are a critical group in any election, but even more so this year,” said Les Cook, vice president for student affairs at Michigan Tech. “Having the Mobile Office on campus gives our students access to get registered in an efficient and convenient manner. This is a great opportunity for students to exercise their right to vote.”

The visits are part of Johnson’s far-reaching efforts to register voters and educate them about what to expect on Election Day. The last day to register to vote for the Nov. election is Oct. 11.

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

• A postcard sent to every 18-year-old on their birthday reminding them to register to vote.
• Voter registration for newly sworn citizens at naturalization ceremonies across the state.
• A policy in which office customers who come in for personal ID or driver’s licenses are asked if they want to register to vote, provided they are U.S. citizens.

Johnson reminds residents 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.