• Mission Statement
• Goals and Objectives are bienniel and based on the state fiscal year.
• 2006-2007, July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2007
• 2008-2009, July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2009

Mission Statement

The Secretary of State’s Office is committed to better positioning Montana for the future by embracing innovative ideas and technology to:

• Foster greater public confidence and participation in the electoral process
• Promote business activities by providing prompt and accurate service
• Act as the steward of state government records by educating agencies on the management and preservation of public documents
• Enhance the security of business transactions through the notary process
• Facilitate public participation in governmental rulemaking
• Provide easier access to information
  

2006-2007 Goals and Objectives

Continue efforts to provide increasing access to the Secretary of State’s Office services through technology.

• Develop and implement Statewide Voter Registration System in compliance with the Help America Vote Act.
• Develop and implement a new corporation registration system to replace 25 year old system.
• Develop and educate electronic document management guidelines for managing electronic records and information.
• Digitize 3.5 million corporate documents starting with active entities.
• Provide digital UCC Liens to on-line customers.
• Provide on-line access to the Federal Farm Bill master list.
• Refine “ARM on the Web” to enhance usefulness to user.
• Digitize 20,000 notary registrations.

Continue efforts to improve customer services by reducing turnaround time.

• Monitor correspondence, compliance processing, customer service to eliminate confusion.
• Provide improved records management services by replacing manual processes with software-based processes.
• Continue to offer fast, friendly and efficient personal assistance and service.
• Review and update Title 1 to reflect current practice and revised standards.
• Maintain the quality of publications as new business processes are adopted.
• Strengthen relationships with subscribers and submitters.

Continue efforts to improve efficiency.

• Implement remaining steps identified through process reengineering.
• Automate records center with bar code technology.
• Develop business plan to implement recommendations from workflow study.
• Implement new internal budgeting system.
• Implement new internal accounting system.

Continue efforts to improve voter participation.

• Train and educate elections judges throughout the state to implement new statewide voter database system.
• Provide outreach to encourage voter registration.
• Provide outreach to encourage registered voters to vote.
• Implement the federal Help America Vote Act.
• Educate voters of their rights and responsibilities to correctly mark ballots.
• Continue training election officials.
• Provide specialized voting equipment for disabled voters in each polling place.
• Develop computerized statewide voter registration system for use by SOS and all county election officials.
• Educate Montana voters on changes in election laws.
• Develop program for educating elementary and high school students on voting rights and civil responsibility.

Continue efforts to inform and educate our customers and the public.

• Update and improve guidelines for retaining/disposing of state and local documents.
• Develop guidelines for managing electronic records and electronic recordkeeping systems.
• Continue quarterly training of all state agencies on records management policies and procedures.