Xavier Henderson, branch manager of the Michigan Department of State office in Portage, shows the electronic check-in and booking station. (Contributed photo)

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of State has completed installation of check-in and booking stations at branch office locations that do not have a full-time staff greeter present, finishing the project several months ahead of schedule.

Now, customers at 80 branch offices can immediately check in or book an appointment using an oversized computer tablet stationed at the front of the office.

“Bringing check-in tablets to our branch offices without a permanent greeter marks a major step forward in how we serve our customers,” said Jennifer Mazzola, director of the Bureau of Branch Operations at MDOS. “This improvement gives visitors the flexibility to check themselves in on arrival or conveniently schedule a visit if needed. It’s all about making interactions simpler and faster for everyone.”

MDOS first installed check-in and booking stations as a part of a pilot program in 2025 at the Adrian, Alma, Kalamazoo, St. Ignace and St. Johns offices. Based on the successful pilot, the stations were scheduled to be installed in the remaining 75 offices without greeters by November 2026. Due to the dedication and efficiency of the MDOS team, the project was successfully completed well ahead of schedule.

Branch office managers came up with the idea of installing electronic check-in stations and worked with the MDOS Office of Continuous Improvement and Transformation to make the plan a reality. Now, employees at smaller branch offices don’t have to try to greet and check people in while in the process of helping another customer complete their transaction.

Michiganders can schedule a visit up to six months in advance for any Secretary of State office online at Michigan.gov/SOS or by calling 888-767-6424.

The online system or call center agent will walk people through everything they need to bring for the transaction, helping avoid having to make a return visit. Those who arrive without having scheduled ahead can use one of the check-in and booking stations or work with a staff member to book the next available time slot, which may be later in the day or the next business day.