Voting technology company Dominion Voting Systems (DVS), originally based in Toronto and a subject of conspiracy theories during the 2020 U.S. presidential election perpetuated by Republican Donald Trump and his supporters, has been acquired. The company, which had its operations in Denver in recent years, was purchased by a firm led by a former Republican elections official, as announced by the new company on Thursday.
This acquisition marks a significant shift from just over two years ago when, in April 2023, Fox Corporation and Fox News settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion for $787.5 million US, acknowledging the falsity of certain claims made about Dominion in their post-election coverage. Dominion still faced litigation related to similar issues heading into 2025, but reports indicate that settlements were reached with former Trump attorneys Sidney Powell and Rudolph Giuliani, as well as One America News Network.
KnowInk, a St. Louis-based provider of electronic poll books enabling election officials to verify voter information, revealed the acquisition and the rebranding of the company to Liberty Vote. The statement from KnowInk’s owner, former St. Louis elections director Scott Leiendecker, emphasized a commitment to offering election technology that prioritizes transparency through paper-based processes, a key demand among election conspiracy theorists.
John Poulos, Dominion’s former CEO, confirmed the sale with a brief statement, announcing that Liberty Vote had acquired Dominion Voting Systems. While Poulos retained a stake in the company he co-founded, private equity firm Staple Street Capital had acquired a significant controlling interest in Dominion in a $38 million US deal back in 2018.
The majority of voting equipment in the U.S., including that supplied by Dominion, already incorporates a paper trail. All traffic to Dominion’s former website, including fact checks on its technology and the 2020 election, now redirects to libertyvote.com, with the company pledging to restore trust in elections as an entirely American-owned entity.
The announcement did not disclose the financial details of the transaction, but a spokesperson confirmed that all funds for the acquisition were provided by Leiendecker. KnowInk and Liberty Vote operate as privately held companies.
Dominion Voting Systems was established by Poulos and James Hoover following the contentious 2000 U.S. presidential election, marred by controversies like “hanging chads” in Florida. While Dominion technology was not used at the federal level in Canada, it has been utilized in various provincial and municipal elections.
The 2020 election saw allegations targeting Dominion and Smartmatic, another voting technology company. Dominion faced baseless accusations linking its origins to Venezuela and late leader Hugo Chavez. Subsequent studies revealed minimal impact from postelection audits on the presidential vote count.
The election was affirmed as secure by Chris Krebs, the former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, despite being dismissed by Trump and facing investigations. Trump’s claims of election fraud led to the Capitol riots in early 2021, despite recounts and audits confirming Biden’s victory.
The release from Liberty Vote promises to reintroduce hand-marked paper ballots and align company policies with recent voting directives. Trump’s executive order on voting procedures, which challenges existing equipment in several states, has encountered opposition from Democratic groups and civil rights organizations.
