State Rep. Mark Tisdel today invited Greater Rochester residents to share their experiences with the appointment-only system for Michigan Secretary of State offices.

Residents can share any difficulties they have experienced trying to book an appointment by filling out a new online form at gophouse.org/ReopenSOS.

“During the pandemic, many neighbors, especially our senior citizens, in the Greater Rochester area have told me about their attempts to get an appointment at the Secretary of State,” said Tisdel, of Rochester Hills. “We recently learned that in-person services will still be accessible only by appointment regardless of COVID-19, and I encourage people to speak up about the challenging SOS appointment system.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit Michigan, the Department of State closed all branch offices out of precaution. In June 2020, the department reopened offices for in-person services by appointment only, requiring residents to reserve a timeslot online or by calling a toll-free phone line. Available appointments are often entirely reserved months in advance, and the limited next-day appointments the SOS offers can be difficult to book. The department announced in April that branches will be permanently adopting the appointment-only system.

Greater Rochester area residents who are currently in need of assistance with the Secretary of State can contact Tisdel’s office directly by calling 517-373-1773 or emailing [email protected].