IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

This year, residents can see vote totals come in from the comfort of their own homes: By watching it on the Internet.

It’s a step toward two of Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s goals: Make it easier for the public to do business with state government and allow state workers to be more efficient by spending less time on routine tasks.

A Rutgers University group unveiled an online clearinghouse for political information in the Garden State.

"A world-class Web site is a competitive advantage for West Virginia," said Gayle Conelly Manchin, chair of the West Virginia Management Steering Committee and first lady of the state. "It will help the state retain and attract companies, help our home-grown businesses to prosper and our residents to get the service from government they expect in the 21st century. NIC was selected as the private partner to help us make that happen."

On Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began using a federal information sharing capability in all West Virginia counties that uses biometrics to identify aliens, both lawfully and unlawfully present in the United States, who are booked into local law enforcement’s custody for a crime. This information sharing capability is part of Secure Communities—ICE’s comprehensive strategy to improve and modernize the identification and removal of aliens convicted of a crime from the United States.

“We were very pleased to finally see a state develop a comprehensive education component into their overall state Website strategy,” said Cathilea Robinett, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government. “The West Virginia Education Portal takes the right approach to providing diverse online education resources to West Virginia’s citizens.”

"Broadband is a component of the bigger initiative," said Kyle Schafer. "Another component of our three-year strategic plan is getting technology into the home. West Virginia ranks 45th in the nation in personal computers in the home."

Gov. Joe Manchin III today announced the official launch of the state of West Virginia's new and improved Web site located at www.wv.gov.

This Web site is the first nationwide to offer an education portal designed to improve access to the state’s many education resources. In addition, new features of the site include an innovative design reflecting the wild and wonderful mountain state; enhanced information and online services; live help access; and a new Google search.

"This new service is provided as a convenience to our licensees,” said Anthony Carrico, director of the Fire Marshal’s Regulatory and Licensing Division. “Electricians can login to the secure website and complete their license renewal in minutes."

This Web site will provide constituents with up-to-date information about the stimulus dollars that the State of West Virginia is and will be receiving from the federal government through the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

For the second year in a row, WVU researchers in computer sciences are working with the FBI to gather information about biometrics, including facial shapes, finger prints, and even audio and video samples.

Research Assistant Professor Jeremy Dawson says his team is looking for 1,000 people to participate.

The Metro Fiber Build project will establish a high-speed broadband connection between Marshall's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, St. Mary's Medical Center and Cabell Huntington Hospital.

Citizens interested in taking the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicle’s driver’s license practice exam can now download the test for free if they use an iPad, IPhone, or iPod Touch.

The application was featured by Fast Company, a website and magazine focused on “uncovering best and ‘next’ practices,” and helping “a new breed of leader work smarter and more effectively,” on their website (www.fastcompany.com/1608003/first-egovernmental-ipad-apps-hit-the-app-store) as one of the first “eGovernment” applications available for Apple’s new iPad device.

Some students at Fairmont Senior High are working on a project to help residents connect with their local governments in new ways.

It’s called the e-Government project. It was created by the Community Connect Foundation, the state department of education, the state office of technology, the West Virginia Association of County Officials, the state Municipal League, the Regional Education Service Agencies and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. All these groups have partnered to create the project, which will take several years to deploy statewide.

Students will photograph and interview elected officials and attend local government meetings “to understand how county and city governments operate. That’s really the intent of the program,” said Executive Director of Technology and Communication Tom Zielinsky.

The use of increased computer technology to submit state documents required of businesses would make business easier to transact in West Virginia, and the Secretary of State’s Office has the authority to spearhead efforts to make e-commerce more common in the state, both said.

All West Virginia State Police detachments and seven other law enforcement agencies statewide have LiveScan fingerprint technology, which digitally scans fingerprints when a suspect is booked for a crime, said Sgt. J.E. Skidmore with the West Virginia State Police.