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At the Department of State, government that works is an everyday expectation. From protecting the integrity of the electoral system, to licensing and regulating nearly 1 million professionals, to registering new businesses and charities, the department is a customer-service agency.
So it was only natural that when Gov. Tom Wolf promised a government that works more effectively for all residents of Pennsylvania he looked to the Department of State to help advance that goal in 2015.
With the August launch of online voter registration, the department initiated the most significant election reform in Pennsylvania in decades. Online registration was an immediate success with eligible voters and the media. By the end of December, the application site had been used by more than 55,000 eligible Pennsylvanians and the number grows daily.
In fact, online voter registration was so well received that, in December, the Department of State received the 2015 Pennsylvania Excellence in Technology Award for the initiative. The award recognizes projects that significantly advance the use of technology to deliver government that works.
The department also launched a revamped election-results website just prior to the May primary election. The updated website allows users to view results on mobile devices, customize searches and receive timely updates. For people who follow local politics, the portal provides a location-based service through the “My County” link that instantly brings up results for the county in which the user is located.
In 2015, the department also found ways to make government work better for business owners. The Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations launched a new database (State Wide Organization Registration Database – SWORD) that streamlines the corporate filing process for entrepreneurs. With SWORD, customers can choose the option of having their completed filing returned by email. Previously, filings were returned through the U.S. Postal Service. This is consistent with the department’s goal of encouraging more paperless transactions, which result in faster processing times for customers and substantial cost savings for the department.
SWORD filings also have a much lower rejection rate because the online form will not transmit, and customers are immediately notified, if all required information is not provided.
In keeping with the governor’s and the department’s commitment to greater transparency, the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs unveiled a new database of documents related to disciplinary actions filed against any of the commonwealth’s nearly 1 million professional licensees.
The new database allows the public to directly download public documents outlining disciplinary action and penalties taken by the bureau. Previously, the public could search online to check the status of a professional’s license, but documents containing details of each disciplinary case had to be requested through the bureau Prothonotary’s Office. The requester would then have to wait for a response in the mail or by email.
As we enter the new year, the Department of State will continue its work to increase openness and transparency. Likewise, we will find innovative ways to advance our customer service to the next level of accuracy, courtesy and timeliness.