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In a significant industry shift, Dominion Voting Systems, the election equipment company that became the center of 2020 election conspiracy theories, has been acquired and rebranded as Liberty Vote. The acquisition was announced by Scott Leiendecker, a former Republican election official from Missouri who founded KnowInk, a company specializing in electronic pollbooks used at voting sites nationwide.
The sale marks the end of an era for Dominion, which had been embroiled in years of controversy following the 2020 presidential election. “As of today, Dominion is gone. Liberty Vote assumes full ownership and operational control,” the company stated in its announcement.
Leiendecker, who served as St. Louis elections director from 2005 to 2012, described the acquisition as “a new chapter for American elections – one where trust is rebuilt from the ground up.” During his tenure in St. Louis, Leiendecker worked alongside Ed Martin, a Trump ally who chaired the St. Louis board of elections from 2005 to 2006.
The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The private equity firm Staple Street Capital had previously purchased a 76% stake in Dominion for $38 million in 2018.
Dominion’s systems were used in more than half of U.S. states during the 2024 election. The company, originally founded in Toronto with additional operations in Denver, Colorado, developed voting software through offices across the United States, Canada, and Serbia.
The acquisition follows Dominion’s extensive legal battles to defend its reputation against baseless claims that its equipment had manipulated votes in the 2020 election. Last year, the company reached a landmark $787.5 million settlement with Fox over false election claims. Additional settlements included a $67 million agreement with Newsmax earlier this year and separate settlements with One America News, Sidney Powell, and Rudy Giuliani.
Jennifer Morrell, CEO of The Elections Group and a respected election administration consultant, expressed confidence in the transition, noting that KnowInk is “highly regarded” in the election community. “I’m confident they would not be buying Dominion if there was any possibility they could not offer the same great services and support that they currently provide election officials with their e-pollbook and voter registration systems,” she said.
Liberty Vote has outlined several operational changes under its new management, including a commitment to hand-marked paper ballots, 100% American ownership with domestic staffing and software development, and implementation of rigorous third-party auditing standards.
The company also stated that its approach would ensure compliance with recent election security measures, including a March 25 executive order that requires states to use voting systems with a “voter verifiable paper record.” This requirement is already met by every state except Louisiana, according to the non-profit organization Verified Voting. The executive order also seeks to prohibit equipment that encodes voters’ choices in QR codes.
The voting technology sector has been under intense scrutiny since 2020, with election officials and vendors working to balance security concerns with technological advancement. The rebranding of Dominion to Liberty Vote represents not just a corporate transition but also an attempt to address public trust issues that have plagued the industry.
Industry analysts suggest this acquisition could signal a broader shift in how voting technology companies position themselves in an increasingly polarized political environment, where election integrity has become a central concern for voters across the political spectrum.
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10 Comments
Interesting to see how this acquisition will impact the future of election technology. I’m curious to learn more about the new owner’s background and vision for rebuilding trust in the electoral process.
The financial details of the transaction weren’t disclosed, which raises some questions. I hope the new owner is committed to transparency and nonpartisanship.
The acquisition of Dominion Voting Systems is a notable event in the ongoing debates around election security and integrity. I’m interested to see how the new owner, Liberty Vote, will position the company and address the controversies of the past.
The acquisition of Dominion by a former Republican election official raises some concerns about potential political influence. I hope the new owner can maintain a neutral and professional approach to election management.
Rebuilding trust in the electoral process is crucial, so I’ll be closely watching how Liberty Vote navigates this transition and implements changes.
This is certainly a significant industry shift. I wonder how the change in ownership and rebranding will affect Dominion’s operations and reputation, given the controversies surrounding the 2020 election.
It’s important that the new company, Liberty Vote, prioritizes security, integrity, and nonpartisanship in its election technology and services.
The shift from Dominion to Liberty Vote is certainly an interesting one. I hope the new owner can bring a fresh perspective and restore confidence in the integrity of election systems.
Transparency and nonpartisanship will be key as Liberty Vote moves forward. I’ll be watching closely to see how they navigate this transition.
This is a significant development in the world of election technology. I’m curious to see how the new owner, with his background in election administration, will steer the company’s direction and address the controversies surrounding Dominion.