LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Things are going from bad to worse for self-appointed transparency guru and defender of democracy Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and her underlings. Last week, Michigan Bureau of Elections Director Jonathan Brater admitted in a Hillsdale County courtroom that he unlawfully deleted election data in 2020.
The admission came during a hearing for Adams Township Clerk Stephanie Scott. She is facing alleged election violations charges from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
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A Dec. 1, 2020 memo sent by Brater to Michigan clerks instructed them to delete all data from 2020 election poll book (EBP) flash drives. Scott refused, citing Michigan election law 168.811 that says “All election returns, including poll lists, statements, tally sheets, absent voters’ return envelopes bearing the statement required by section 761, absent voters’ records required by section 760, and other returns made by the election inspectors of the several precincts must be carefully preserved and may be destroyed after the expiration of 22 months following the primary or election at which the same were used.”
After prompting from the judge, Brater finally admitted his unlawful actions.
This news follows a year’s worth of efforts from the Michigan House Elections Integrity Committee and its chair, Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin). Her committee has tried to obtain election training materials from Benson who has stonewalled the proceedings. This prompted a subpoena in which Benson only turned over some of the requested documents. She claimed she wanted to keep voter information safe and that subpoena was unnecessary and claimed the documents are available online.
Rep. Smit isn’t buying any of it. “How many times will Secretary Benson and her cronies admit to violating election law before Democrats and Republicans band together and demand answers?” Smit said. “This isn’t the first or only time the Michigan Department of State has given out illegal guidance.”
She also added that the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate cannot ignore state law and go with what’s best for her and her party. “I’m sure the more we dig, the more we’ll find similar unlawful regulations handed down to our clerks,” Rep. Smit said.
