Jonathan Brater Named as New Director of the Bureau of Elections
Today Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson named Jonathan Brater as the incoming Director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections. Brater will begin Jan. 2, following the retirement of current director Sally Williams. He began work with the Department of State in January, and has worked closely with the Bureau of Elections all year on several important priorities as the Secretary of State’s Legal Policy Director. In particular, Jonathan has coordinated the Department of State's work with the Secretary’s Election Modernization Advisory Committee and Elections Security Advisory Commission and has overseen the implementation of Proposal 3, Automatic Voter Registration and Online Voter Registration. Previously, he served as counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, a non-partisan nonprofit, where his work focused on modernizing elections in partnership with secretaries of state around the country. A nationally recognized expert on voter registration law and policy, he graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, where he served as executive editor of the Michigan Law Review.
“Throughout his career Jonathan has demonstrated his commitment to secure, non-partisan election administration,” said Benson. “His deep expertise of elections practice nationally and in Michigan will be of tremendous benefit to the state.”
Brater, an Ann Arbor native, was selected after an open application process that began shortly after Williams announced her retirement earlier this month. Williams, who also participated in the selection of her successor, said: “It has been a pleasure to work alongside Jonathan this year, and I’m thrilled to see someone with his skills and expertise continue the important work of leading the Bureau during this critical time.” Williams will work with Brater through the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition.
“I’m honored to serve as Director of Elections and look forward to working more closely with our local election official community to further strengthen our close relationship in administering Michigan’s elections," said Brater. "Our staff stand ready to ensure smooth and secure elections in 2020 and beyond, and we will work in partnership with our clerks and their staffs to do so.”
|
