Technology Modernization When state law requires your municipality to archive data with microfilm technology, you know your legislatures are technologically challenged. I have attempted to illustrate the advantages of making an inexpensive transition to a cloud computing based system to various senators and government officials, but it is like talking to a brick wall. In my township of West Bloomfield alone, the cost of maintaining the microfilm equipment every year is roughly $22,000. This cost is likely much higher at the county level, but if we assume an average annual $22,000 expense for each of Michigan's 83 counties, 1,242 townships, 274 cities, and 259 villages then every year over 40 million dollars is wasted due to government modernization failures. Not to mention, instead of simply uploading information onto a database with just a click of a button, each document needs to be manually photographed, processed, and stored. Further, instead of being able to access archived information from home, one must make a journey to the archive location and manually sort though each microfilm (side note: some municipalities both microfilm and digitally store data). A transition to a cloud computing based system would allow for infinite scalability, increased efficiency, and act as a low cost information storage solution. Centralizing our IT infrastructure also eliminates the need for each municipality to manage their own IT hardware. This makes it possible to drastically reduce or eliminate IT costs on the local level directly saving an estimated 1 billion dollars annually. Given the flexibility of such a system, it would then be possible to integrate features which would greatly simplify life for residents of Michigan. I would begin by creating a personalized access terminal for every Michigan resident. This would enable residents to receive personalized information from the state, county, and local municipalities via email. Additional capabilities would include paying taxes online, accessing personal health care records, and syncing credit/debit cards to ones enhanced driver's license in order to reduce the number of cards residents need to carry. If the ID is lost or stolen then a resident can simply log into their account and deactivate their ID card. Future applications may also include signing electronic petitions and voting. Internet Speeds In the information age, he who transmits information the fastest is king. I would like to begin a 1 gigabyte per second initiative in Michigan. I am a proponent of expanding and augmenting our fibrotic networks in order to become the world leader in data transmission speeds. Investments into these data lines would make Michigan very attractive to high-tech companies who utilize large amounts of bandwidth. More importantly it is an essential step in transitioning to a technology based economy. Smart Ballot Many of you have probably wondered why we have not transitioned to an electronic voting platform. The cost savings potential is obvious and results would be virtually instantaneous. I would be inclined to make such a transition, but the reality is that current systems are too susceptible to being compromised and voting online is essentially out of the question for the foreseeable future. Lucky I have come up with an infinitely better solution which circumnavigates the current technical hurdles, cuts election costs, improves voter education, and eliminates the slow lines at the polls. Here is how it works. The secretary of state would create an electronic ballot accessible by every voter via the internet. The electronic ballots would contain links to each candidate’s customizable profile, voting records (if they are/were an incumbent), a list of their contributions and expenditures, as well as other relevant information for making an informed decision. After a voter has compared each candidate, the voter can check off all of their choices. Next, the voter can press print and an electronic voter verifiable ballot will be printed with a digital barcode. If a voter changes his mind last minute, then he can simply print a new ballot. On Election Day, voters who have leveraged this option can skip the long lines, have their premade ballots quickly scanned and be on their way. Real Time Data (under construction)