Alexi Giannoulias

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

I’m running for reelection because we’ve made real progress transforming the Secretary of State’s office, but there is more work to do. When I took over the largest Secretary of State’s office in the country—with 4,000 employees across 25 departments—I promised to modernize a government office that millions of Illinoisans interact with every year, improve customer service, strengthen public safety, and make government work better for the people it serves. We’ve shown what is possible when government embraces innovation and puts people first. I’m running to build on that progress and continue delivering the efficient, accessible, and accountable government Illinoisans deserve.

What skills or experience do you have that make you particularly suited to this position?

I’ve spent my career focused on making government work better and delivering results for Illinoisans. Over the past four years, we’ve modernized services, expanded online transaction options, implemented Skip-the-Line appointments to reduce wait times, opened more efficient DMV facilities, strengthened ethics and accountability, protected libraries and intellectual freedom, and pursued reforms that protect consumers and public safety. I understand how to manage a large public agency, bring people together around change, and turn ideas into measurable improvements for the people we serve.

What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?

The Secretary of State’s office does an extraordinary amount of work every day. From issuing driver’s licenses and IDs to registering businesses, supporting libraries, maintaining public records, overseeing organ and tissue donor registration, and helping keep our roads safe, our employees provide essential services to millions of Illinoisans.

We’ve made significant progress improving the customer experience, but modernization is not something you finish overnight. We need to continue moving more routine transactions online, upgrading aging technology, improving facilities, and making sure that when someone does need to visit a DMV, the experience is efficient and predictable. Government should respect people’s time, and our goal is to make every interaction with this office as simple and convenient as possible.

What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?

Affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing families across Illinois. While the Secretary of State cannot control the price of groceries or housing, we can make sure government is not adding unnecessary costs, frustration, or bureaucracy to people’s lives.

That means continuing to expand online services, so people don’t have to take time off work to visit a DMV; reducing unnecessary paperwork and red tape for small businesses; protecting consumers from fraud and financial exploitation; and finding new ways to make government services more convenient and accessible. Every hour we save someone and every unnecessary hurdle we eliminate matters.

Is there a major policy initiative or financial issue you will look to tackle in the next year?

One of my biggest priorities is continuing the technological transformation of the Secretary of State’s office. We inherited systems and processes that were built for another era, and we have been aggressively working to modernize them.

The next phase is about making even more services available digitally, improving how our systems communicate with one another, strengthening cybersecurity and data protections, and using technology to make services faster without leaving behind seniors, people with disabilities, or anyone who prefers or needs in-person assistance. The goal is simple: Illinoisans should be able to interact with state government in the way that works best for them.

If you are elected, what would the end of a successful four-year term look like for you?

Success would mean Illinois has one of the most modern, efficient, and customer-friendly Secretary of State offices in the country.

It would mean that most routine transactions can be completed quickly online, while people who need in-person service can get an appointment and receive help without spending hours waiting. It means safer roads, stronger protections for consumers and personal information, thriving libraries, easier interactions for businesses, and an agency workforce that has the technology and resources it needs to serve the public effectively. 

Reaching these objectives will entail expanding the number of One-Stop-Shop facilities, growing the number of Fast-Lane kiosks to give residents more convenient locations to access our services, allowing more self-service options, expanding our new mobile ID program beyond Apple devices to include Google and Samsung phones, and further streamlining the REAL ID process so people know exactly what documents they need before they arrive at the airport.

Most importantly, I want people to see the Secretary of State’s office as proof that government can work. When we demand more from government, embrace innovation and hold ourselves accountable for results, we can make a meaningful difference in people’s everyday lives.

What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive?

Accessibility starts with giving people choices. We will continue expanding online services for Illinoisans who want the convenience of handling transactions from home while maintaining strong in-person and telephone service for people who need additional assistance.

We’ll continue improving the appointment system, investing in accessible facilities and technology, expanding language access, and making information easier to understand and navigate. We’ll also continue listening directly to customers and employees about what is working and where we can improve.

At the end of the day, this is a public service agency. People should not have to understand the bureaucracy to get help from their government. It is our responsibility to make the system work for them.