Question of the day
Wednesday, Jul 12, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* An official with the secretary of state’s office told me yesterday that they specifically looked at your comments on this January post during the process of revamping their website. From a press release..
The Illinois Secretary of State’s office launched a redesign of its website, making it easier to navigate and adding new functions for services that users can access remotely, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced today.
“The revamped website is more intuitive and prioritizes our most popular programs and services so customers can find the information they want and need faster and more conveniently,” Giannoulias said. “Whether it’s renewing your driver’s license, searching for information about a business or looking for a job, making these changes and adding new functionality to the website reflect our commitment to residents and understanding their needs.”
Along with creating a new and consistent look throughout the website that is easier to view and navigate, other enhancements include:
• Simplifying the homepage to prominently feature key services and most frequently sought information.
• Consolidating the process of renewing a driver’s license or ID card online by eliminating unnecessary and confusing steps.
• Developing a job portal allowing people to search and apply for available Secretary of State positions.
• Adding new functionality to Businesses Services that allow users to submit more filings online, including terminating an LLC.
• Creating a new Business Entity search function that details more information about all Illinois corporations, LLCs, and other businesses and allows the entity to perform transactions such as ordering a certificate of good standing or filing an annual report.
• Enhancing the search function to allow for detailed searches and a reformatted page to display more information about lobbyist activities.
• Streamlining the search functions for business entities and lobbyists to allow the user to use the back button on the browser to return to the list of entities generated by the user’s initial search entry. The old website feature took the user back to the original blank search page.
• Uploading essential lobbyists’ information maintained by the office to the State of Illinois Data Portal.
Giannoulias emphasized that his office will continue implementing new features on the website in conjunction with the efforts to modernize the office’s antiquated IT infrastructure.
“This is only the beginning,” said Giannoulias. “I hope people explore ilsos.gov to see what services they can conduct online. We will continue modernizing the website and adding capabilities to ensure customers can access the resources they need. We look forward to feedback from the public about their experience with the new functions on the site and incorporating more updates and improvements in the future.”
Giannoulias has spearheaded efforts to modernize the office since taking office in January, and this represents another step in the ongoing process.
* The Question: What do you think of the new ilsos.gov?
- New Day - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 9:30 am:
UGH. Superficially looks better but worse underneath. Reminds me of the Board of Elections redo. Cleaner look but things are buried deeper and harder to find. Not an upgrade. Not remotely. Did Mr. Tech Alexi actually engage UX experts? Doesn’t look like it.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 9:41 am:
Need to make the Facility customer Feedback form - a modern fillable online form. It actually would be a good way to gather more positive feedback - as the current one is an old-fashioned pdf that needs to be filled out and then mailed to the SOS.
- thisjustinagain - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 9:46 am:
Took a quick look at a few features.. it looks better, but not sure it’s a huge functional improvement overall. Wish Illinois would look at some other state’s websites for clues, and not assume everyone uses mobile devices to get things done these days, then force the mobile desktop on big-device users.
- Name - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 9:50 am:
Since the state maintains the list of lobbyists for all governmental entities but the City of Chicago, it would be nice if government entities had the ability to see who registered to be a lobbyist for them. Currently, the site requires you to check on the individiual to see the registration information. It also would be nice if the expenditure reports could be searchable to see which Officials and employers.
- the Edge - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 9:58 am:
the renew dl and plates section is much easier to navigate than the previous ones. It looks good, modern and seems much easier to navigate to renew the stuff I need to renew, i.e., dl and plates.
- Sox Fan - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 9:59 am:
I actually renewed my license over the weekend. I have to say, the process was quick and painless. I know a lot of users on this board need the ILSOS office for a lot more than just licenses, but getting that part right is a good first step.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 10:25 am:
When will I be able to report handicapped parking violators by taking a picture of their license plate and uploading to the website?
The new business records page has a lot more info and better layout.
- Tim - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 10:28 am:
Mixed bag here. Certainly looks better but I’m not sure it’s a big organizational improvement. Kind of looks like they just put a new skin on some things, like the registration renewal functionality.
Interesting to see the wording “Find a DMV Facility” right up front when the SOS has never officially embraced that terminology.
- Sangamo Girl - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 10:36 am:
==When will I be able to report handicapped parking violators by taking a picture of their license plate and uploading to the website?==
Never as it the wrong Constitutional Office. It’s local law enforcement for parking and the Illinois Attorney General Office of Disability Rights for larger access issues. https://ag.state.il.us/rights/disabilityrights.html
- New Day - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 10:36 am:
“Kind of looks like they just put a new skin on some things”
Exactly. New skin. Same tired body.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 10:47 am:
===It’s local law enforcement for parking===
SoS Police does do targeted enforcement.
- P - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 11:00 am:
cyberdriveillinois.com forever
- This - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 11:30 am:
One suggestion: list of PR/Communications consultants who are on both the City of Chicago and State of Illinois gravy train (agency contracts) with their political contributions.
- West Sider - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 1:11 pm:
Just renewed my DL online- the website worked flawlessly, however, the website instructions in the letter I received from the SoS did not match the menu of actual website. Figured it out anyway, and so it all worked fine.
- The Office - Wednesday, Jul 12, 23 @ 2:23 pm:
This great news. The business search tool is significantly improved.
Rich, now lets get a post going talking about how ILGA.gov could be improved!