Organ donor registry tops 5 million

Secretary Johnson and other advocates participated in a pre-game ceremony on Organ Donor Awareness Day at Comerica Park on Aug. 13 to encourage people to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

64 percent of Michigan adults have pledged to give the gift of life

More than 5 million Michigan residents now have joined the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, making a commitment to give the gift of life, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced recently.

“Every name is a beacon of hope for the more than 3,200 people in Michigan awaiting a life-changing transplant,” Johnson said. “I want to thank everyone who has taken a moment to make this pledge. However, we will continue to encourage people to sign up on the registry as the need continues to grow.”

“This milestone reflects the generosity of Michigan residents who want to help others by becoming organ, eye and tissue donors,” said Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s federally designated organ and tissue recovery program. “We are proud to collaborate with the Secretary of State and other donation partners who make these life-saving, life-improving gifts possible.”

When Johnson took office in 2011, 27 percent of eligible Michigan residents had signed up. She made expanding the organ donor rolls a priority and directed staff to start asking customers if they wanted to sign up and began promoting organ donor registration throughout her branch offices.

“Eversight is thrilled more than 64 percent of Michigan residents have made the decision to join the donor registry,” said David Bosch, president of Eversight, the state’s cornea and eye tissue recovery program. “We applaud Secretary Johnson and her staff on their admirable work to make this exciting milestone a reality.”

Every donor has the ability to save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve up to 75 more through cornea and tissue donation.

Anyone can join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, regardless of age or medical history. Go to Michigan.gov/organdonation, call 866-500-5801 or visit any Secretary of State office to sign up. 

SOS staff attends naturalization ceremony, offers voter registration

The U.S. Coast Guard Station Grand Haven, in partnership with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Ottawa County Clerk’s Office, the Charles Conklin American Legion Post, and the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office, held a naturalization ceremony Aug. 1 on the flight deck of the USCG Cutter Escanaba.

After the national anthem and remarks by several officials, a total of 18 individuals from 14 countries were sworn in as new U.S. citizens and then could register to vote with Secretary of State staff.

“This is such a wonderful opportunity for those who are becoming Americans. We at the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office are thankful for the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and the USCIS who made this ceremony possible on this historic ship,” said Barb Vander Veen, Secretary Johnson’s executive office liaison for West Michigan.

Primary turnout is highest in decades

Turnout for the Aug. 7 primary election--almost 2.2 million people--was the highest in at least four decades and Secretary Johnson praised voters and election workers for making it happen.

"(This) election saw what was perhaps the largest number of Michiganians ever exercising their right to vote in an August primary. This is the improved participation we strive for and our state is stronger as a result," she said.

"I want to thank our poll workers, clerks and elections staff, who worked so hard to meet the welcome challenge of higher-than-expected turnout and to ensure that every vote would count. I applaud and congratulate all of the citizens who came to the polls or voted absentee, staking their claim in the future of our communities, state and nation."

Move Over for emergency vehicles!

Secretary Johnson has released a public service announcement calling on motorists to follow Michigan’s “Move Over” law that protects the lives of emergency responders who have stopped their vehicle on a roadway.

Michigan’s Emergency Vehicle Caution Law, which went into effect in 2001, requires that when drivers see a stationary emergency vehicle or tow truck pulled over with its flashing, rotating or oscillating lights on, passing motorists must move over at least one lane or two vehicle widths. If moving over cannot be accomplished, motorists must slow down and pass with caution. Violators face fines or jail.

Protect your kids from unsuitable ads

Parents can block unsuitable online ads from reaching their kids with the Michigan Child Protection Registry at ProtectMiChild.com.

The registry is a free and secure program that families can use to block adult-oriented ads for products like alcohol, tobacco, pornography, online gambling and illegal drugs from reaching their email inboxes, cell phones or instant messenger IDs.