Brater Memorandum – Clerks Prohibited from Independent Verification; Uncertified Vendors Given Exclusive Access (MI)

Michigan Director of Elections Jonathan Brater issued a memorandum on August 4, 2021, directing all Michigan clerks that they “should never allow access to election equipment to entities other than election officials and staff, licensed vendors, and accredited VSTLs.” The memo warned that granting access to unauthorized personnel “may result in the decertification of election equipment” and that “the Bureau may determine, depending on the specific circumstances, that the equipment in question is no longer certified for use in Michigan.”[] The permitted-access list explicitly included ElectionSource — Dominion’s licensed Michigan reseller — alongside Dominion, ES&S, and Hart, giving those vendors continued access for programming, testing, software updates, and preventative maintenance, while independent technical experts retained by clerks were categorically excluded. This structure ensured that the only entities authorized to inspect and service voting equipment were the same vendors with a commercial interest in that equipment’s continued use.