Tag Archive for 'technology'

Oregon’s Secretary of State previews technology for Windows 8 exclusively to voters with disabilities

Published on October 22, 2012 in Elections, general election, HAVA, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

SALEM – Under the leadership of Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown, Samsung has provided 10 tablet PC’s loaded with Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system to be used by Oregon voters with disabilities. Windows 8 provides many built in accessibility tools and features as well as USB plug-in capabilities for accessibility-enhancing devices that can simplify the process of marking a ballot for voters with disabilities. The Secretary of State’s office is piloting the software in conjunction with this election.

“Our relationship with Microsoft is another example of my strong commitment to increasing access to the ballot,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “Specifically, in this pilot project Oregon voters with disabilities will be encouraged to test their own accessibility devices with the brand-new technology that should increase the use and confidence in our accessible voting system.”

Currently, all 36 Oregon counties have tablets available for voters with disabilities. Last fall Oregon became the first state in the nation to utilize tablet technology in elections. This latest pilot featuring the Samsung Series 7 PC tablets with Windows 8 will be used during the November General Election. Oregon’s Secretary of State and Microsoft Corp. will be working together providing technical support and feedback during this latest pilot.

“Oregon is a recognized leader in elections solutions. We are pleased to work with them in this first usage in the U.S. of a Windows 8-powered tablet for elections,” said Mark Wernet, Microsoft.

Oregon voters with disabilities interested in accessing tablet technology to mark their ballot should contact Don DeFord at Don.Deford@state.or.us or call 503-986-1518.

Oregon Recognized by National Military Voter Protection Project as All-Star State

Published on August 16, 2012 in Elections and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Oregon was recognized as an All-Star state today by the Military Voter Protection (MVP) Project for taking significant efforts to promote and protect the voting rights of America’s military service members and their families.

“Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has long demonstrated her commitment to the voting rights of our men and women in uniform, especially through the use of technology including iPads and internet tools,” said Eric Eversole, founder and executive director of the Military Voter Protection Project. “These efforts will help ensure that our service members can vote, regardless of where duty takes them.”

In analyzing these states, the MVP Project looked at a number of factors, including:

  • The state’s efforts to work with and reach out to local military installations and National Guard units on a proactive basis to provide on-base voter assistance;
  • Its use of electronic and web-based services to send election materials;
  • Its willingness to create specialized communications to military voters either through public service announcements or web-based announcements;
  • The state’s legislative efforts to eliminate barriers to military voter participation; and
  • Its track record of making sure that absentee military ballots are sent out no later than 45-days before the election and, when they are not, a high degree of accountability to resolve any violations.

You can view the Oregon All-Star page here.

“It truly is an honor to be recognized for our extraordinary efforts in protecting the voting rights of Oregon’s service members and their families,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown.

All-Star states list include: Oregon, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.

For more information about the Military Voter Protection Project’s Heroes Vote Initiative or to view details about the MVP Project All-Star states, please visit http://www.herosvote.org/.

Audit: Computer Controls at Oregon Employment Need Attention

Published on August 15, 2012 in Audits and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Better collection of unemployment overpayments needed

The Secretary of State Audits Division released a report today that found Oregon Employment Department computer systems reasonably ensured accurate and timely payment of unemployment benefit, but the department could improve handling of unusual or complicated claims.

For example, auditors found about $23 million of identified overpayments, about one percent of total payments, were not processed for more than six months, delaying collection efforts. In addition, auditors identified $6 million of overpayments that likely would never be assigned for collection. The department also handled some overpayments by paying claims again without considering the amount that was already overpaid, increasing overpayment totals for these claims from about $4.1 million to $9.6 million.

“During this great recession, unemployment benefits have been a lifeline to so many Oregonians. Still, it’s important for the Employment Department to minimize overpayments and to set up sound procedures for collecting that money to protect taxpayers and businesses,” Secretary of State Kate Brown said.

Auditors also noted improvements the department could make to better manage changes to computer code, define how the system would be recovered in the event of a disaster, and improve security over the system and its data.

The report, including the agency response, can be found at www.sos.state.or.us/audits.

Oregon’s “one stop” business portal is up and running

Published on July 24, 2012 in Corporation, Headlines and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

We are so pleased to announce that Business Xpress, Oregon’s “one stop” business portal is now available at business.oregon.gov/ or oregon.gov/business. This project has been a very collaborative effort among nine state agencies, many Oregon business associations and dozens of Oregonians who provided invaluable feedback throughout the process. The end result is a usable and easy to understand website built specifically for business.

The goal of Business Xpress is to help entrepreneurs and business owners quickly find the information and services they need and complete tasks online without having to understand state agency jargon. Reducing red tape and the time it takes to get answers will ultimately serve Oregon business better than ever before. The business portal is one of many ways we are using technology to connect Oregonians with their government.

As we continue to introduce the website to the public we are careful to gather feedback. On Wednesday, July 25 at 10 am I will be visiting with a great, small business right in my neighborhood of southeast Portland. The Joinery, locally owned, custom handcrafted solid wood furniture shop and retail store is opening its doors to us and offering some expertise on what small businesses in Oregon need. The owner and the employees have established a business that is committed to quality jobs, environmentally sensitive materials and practices and community outreach. I want to thank everyone at The Joinery for having us and I look forward to getting your ideas on Business Xpress. Thanks to everyone that made this extraordinary tool possible.

All UCC filings in Oregon can now be done online

Published on July 19, 2012 in Corporation. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

SALEM – The Secretary of State, Corporation Division is the central filing office for financing statements and other documents provided under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). The purpose of the UCC program is to create a public notice of records of debt, to establish priority of claim for the secured party in the event of a bankruptcy by the debtor.

Online UCC filing is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, which is important in a service where the first to file may lend a significant business advantage. Filing is immediate as compared to the 2-3 day processing time of a traditional paper filing.

“Making it easier to file UCC’s will benefit small business,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “Most UCC’s are filed to secure a loan made to a small business to reduce the risk for creditors. With lower risk small business can access credit more easily. This is just another example of how we are using technology to connect our customers with better services making life and doing business in Oregon easier.”

The availability of UCC records reduces the risk of creditors by establishing a security interest incurred by a debtor, so that priority of claim may be proved in case of bankruptcy or default; and by providing information on financing statements and liens to interested parties.

For more information on e-filing please visit: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/ucc/efiling/new

Digital Preservation Workshops offered by State Archives

Published on June 1, 2012 in Archives, Headlines and Secretary Brown. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Media Advisory

Salem – In today’s technology driven world, digital records are created and used by a wide variety of individuals, for multiple purposes. Family photos are created as digital images and email and word-processing documents have replaced traditional paper records in many organizations.

The second in a series of workshops on basic digital preservation, titled Select/Store, is scheduled for June 6th from 10 A.M. to noon at the State Archives building, 800 Summer Street NE, in Salem. Select/Store will cover the basics of selecting and storing digital content for long-term preservation. The first portion of the workshop will provide instruction on how to select digital content for preservation by considering how the content will be used, stored and reviewed. We will also cover how to establish standards for selecting which content you or your organization needs to preserve.

The second part of this workshop will address questions relating to the storage of the digital content you or your organization has selected to preserve. We will discuss the file types and storage devices recommended for long-term storage of digital content and address some of the issues that you should be aware of when selecting your primary and backup storage devices.

In addition, we will address the use of cloud storage vs. local storage in the long-term preservation and accessibility of digital content. Subsequent workshops will cover additional steps in the digital content preservation process.

All workshops will be lead by Austin Schulz of the State Archives staff. Austin recently attended the Digital Preservation Outreach and Education training at the Library of Congress. The training was part of a national effort to encourage individuals and organizations to actively preserve their digital content and consists of five modules geared toward individuals seeking a basic introduction to digital content preservation.

These workshops are open to the public. Although the workshops are free, pre-registration is required. To register simply email the Archives at: reference.archives@state.or.us and put “Digital Preservation Workshop” in the subject line. If you have any questions or would like to register by phone, please contact Austin Schulz at (503) 378-5161.

Secretary of State distributes iPads statewide to assist Oregon voters with special needs

Published on May 10, 2012 in Elections, HAVA and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

SALEM – Last fall, Oregon became the first state in the nation to use iPads to mark ballots. The successful project was piloted in five Oregon counties. After evaluating the results of the pilot project it was clear that using the tablets improves access for voters with special needs, is easier for counties to administer, and is more cost-effective.

“Nearly 200 Oregonians used the iPad to mark their ballots during the pilot,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “We can do better. I am proud to expand the availability of this technology statewide to serve all Oregonians who may have accessibility needs. My goal is to make the ballot more accessible to all eligible Oregonians.”

Using federal Help America Vote Act dollars, the Secretary of State’s Elections Division provided each of Oregon’s 36 counties with at least one iPad and printer for use in the May Primary. Oregon Elections continued its successful partnership with Everyone Counts, the developer of the software that drives the system. The iPads replace an old system that was expensive to maintain and difficult to use. Oregon Elections provided county staff with the training needed to assist voters.

On Friday, May 11, 2012 Oregon Elections and the Washington County Voter Assistance team will visit Avamere Rehabilitation, an assisted living facility in Beaverton. The team will have iPads available for voters with special needs to use and mark their ballots. In an effort to explore the newest technology available for those with special needs, Oregon Elections invited Dr. Juan Gilbert, a professor and chairman of the Human-Centered Computing Division in Clemson University’s School of Computing to attend. During his visit Dr. Gilbert will demonstrate new software he is developing to assist voters with disabilities. Dr. Gilbert and his team will be present, along with representatives from Portland State University, University of Washington and Intel.

For more information, please contact

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Willamette MBA students create QR codes to promote Oregon’s Blue Book

Published on May 8, 2012 in Archives, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown, Social Media and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Press Release
May 8, 2012

Stevens State Park QR codeSALEM – In an effort to increase awareness and help the Secretary of State’s office promote Oregon’s Blue Book, students with Willamette University’s Atkinson School of Management created a marketing plan using Quick Response (QR) codes at Oregon State Parks. The codes created by the students contain interesting information, factoids, trivia and links to the Blue Book. People with smart phones and a free app can snap a photo of the code and be taken to the right web page automatically.

“This is a really cool project,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “We have always struggled to raise the public’s awareness of the Blue Book and all the great information it contains. I encourage Oregonians to take out their smart phone when visiting these parks and give these QR codes a try. They really are a lot of fun.”

The QR codes are placed at several of Oregon’s State Parks. Locations with a high number of visitors and good cellular coverage were selected. Oregon State Archives will host and maintain the website behind the QR codes. Oregon State Parks will place and maintain these QR Codes in the various locations and will collect website traffic statistics. This joint venture cost nothing to implement. State Parks and the State Archives will maintain and sustain the project without incurring any costs.

“We look forward to seeing how well these QR codes are received,” said Archives Director Mary Beth Herkert. “This is a new venture for us and we enjoyed working with the students and learning about this relatively new tool in marketing and public outreach.”

You can find the QR codes at the following state parks:
Fort Stevens State Park, Tryon Creek Park, Beverly Beach, Shore Acres, Valley of the Rogue State Park, Deschutes River State Recreation Area, Maples Valley Rest Area, Smith Rock State Park, Tumalo State Park, Yaquina Bay, D River, Crown Point Scenic Corridor, Wallowa Lake, Rooster Rock, Historic Columbia River, Champoeg and Silver Falls State Park.

For more information, please contact

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Secretary of State’s public-private partnership creates jobs in eastern Oregon

Published on May 3, 2012 in Archives, Press Releases, Road Trips, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Press Release
May 3, 2012

SALEM – Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown will celebrate the public-private partnership with Chaves Consulting, Inc. at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. on May 4, 2012 in Baker City, Oregon. This unique partnership allows the Secretary of State’s office to implement the first statewide electronic records management solution, the first of its kind in the country. Oregon’s Records Management Solution (ORMS) is estimated to create more than 25 jobs in eastern Oregon.

“In rural eastern Oregon 25 jobs is significant; it is equivalent to 2,500 jobs in the Portland metro area,” said Secretary Brown. “I am so proud of this partnership. The work allows us to create jobs, preserve Oregon’s history and provide better services to Oregonians at a lower cost.”

ORMS allows for the simplification of records management across the entire state and local government using Hewlett Packard’s software called TRIM. Additionally, this single records management system will enable Oregon to gain economies of scale, cost savings, as well as greater efficiencies due to the consolidation of workloads and reduction of duplicative storage. The system copies, stores, archives and retrieves records creating less work for staff. It also reduces the chances of losing records and is sustainable, decreasing the need for paper and storage.

Cities such as Beaverton, West Linn and Milwaukie; state agencies – Public Utilities Commission and pilot field offices from the Department of Human Services Children, Adults and Families Division; Tillamook County and Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District have all joined as pilot agencies. Additional state and local government agencies are expected to join this year.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at the Synergy Data Center in Baker City. This state of the art facility houses stores the data for ORMS and other clients such as the Wyoming and Missouri Secretaries of State.

For more information, please contact

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Bing Video: Oregon makes voting accessible with iPad

Published on November 20, 2011 in Elections, Headlines, Secretary Brown, Special Elections and Special Primary. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

MSNBC featured the success of Oregon’s pilot program making iPads accessible to voters with disabilities in the first congressional district. Oregon Secretary Kate Brown and Lori Steele, Chairman and CEO of Everyone Counts, Inc were both interviewed by MSNBC’s Craig Melvin.

Secretary Brown shared her optimism about the pilot and explained that the second phase will kick off in January with the General Election. After the General election, officials will gather information from those who used the iPad - disability groups and county elections crews - to decide if the technology will be implemented statewide.

Watch the video: Oregon tests voting by iPad