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This process is one of the latest initiatives of Secretary of
State Alexi Giannoulias’ ongoing effort to modernize the office
and its services.
Notaries are state-appointed officials who administer oaths,
certify documents and act as witnesses to document singings for
things like affidavits and bills of sale. Until now, notary
services could be performed remotely so long as the parties
involved were in Illinois and the notary physically signed and
sealed the notarized document.
Now, the process can occur fully online through one of 12
notarization service providers listed on the Illinois secretary
of state’s website, ilsos.gov. All parties can now participate
remotely and notaries are allowed to use electronic signatures
and seals. Individuals using e-notary services must have a valid
ID and access to a device supporting audio-video communication.
The office is also in the process of moving other functions
online, including by creating an electronic lien and title
system allowing drivers to manage vehicle titles online instead
of through the mail. That system is slated for rollout this
summer, according to a “modernization report” published by the
secretary of state’s office last week.
Illinoisans can already file incorporation and court of claims
documents, access business service and lobbyist databases,
search for jobs and locate archived records through the office’s
updated website.
The office rolled out “Skip-the-Line” and “Do-it-Online”
initiatives last year in an effort to unclog DMV services by
extending facility hours and online services and allowing
Illinoisans to schedule appointments online.
More than 1.5 million appointments have been scheduled since the
“Skip-the-Line” initiative was rolled out last fall, according
to the office’s modernization report. The state has also opened
four senior-only facilities in Bridgeview, Calumet Park,
Evanston and Westchester.
The office is also going to start rolling out kiosks that would
allow Illinoisans to renew their licenses, IDs and vehicle
registrations at various community institutions, like libraries
and grocery stores.
Giannoulias said they will start with 10 locations – including
one on the second floor of the state Capitol – and “hopefully”
expand to 150 within a year.
The report also indicates the office is cross-training over
2,000 DMV staff on all offered services to minimize the number
of different people a customer might need to speak to during a
visit.
Capitol News Illinois is
a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government.
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statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press
Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with
major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation
and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
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