Secretary of State Releases New Android App For Michigan Campaign Finance Filings

LANSING -- Transparency into Michigan state campaign finances expanded Wednesday.

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced the launch of a free Android application, "Michigan CFS" (Campaign Finance Search). This application provides the same mobile access as the iPhone version released in April.

Now most mobile users can have immediate access to electronically filed campaign finance information for all Michigan state offices, and political committees. Both versions also provide access to contributor information, on the go.

"Transparency and accountability in campaign finance are now more easily accessible to all smartphone users," said Johnson, the state's chief elections officer. "I encourage everyone with an interest in campaign finance to check out this application."

Michigan CFS is available for free download on the Google Play Store. Users can use a simple search to find the most recent information on state candidates and/or committees. Information includes committee type, reporting waiver status, office sought, district sought, and election period. It also delivers the most current financial data such as contributions received, including in-kind contributions, expenditures made, and debt owed. Click once to see a list of contributors and the amounts they contributed. The app allows advanced searching as well; search by election period, party affiliation, committee type or the office being sought.

"We are delighted to support the Michigan Secretary of State in this Android version of the groundbreaking Michigan campaign finance mobile application," said Randall Bartlett, president of NIC Technologies. "This app on Android will provide mobile access to even more citizens with interest in Michigan campaign finance and elections."

The Michigan CFS app is developed and managed by NIC Technologies LLC, part of e-government firm NIC Inc.'s (Nasdaq: EGOV) family of companies. NIC Technologies also provides key e-government services for other federal and state agencies. This includes the previous Michigan CFS iPhone application and an iPhone application "FEC CF$" that provides similar election finance data at the federal level. NIC Technologies develops and maintains systems developed for the Michigan Bureau of Elections that support electronic filing and disclosure for State campaign finance information.