A former Republican election official has acquired Dominion Voting Systems, the election technology company that became the center of baseless conspiracy theories following the 2020 presidential election. Scott Leiendecker’s newly formed company, Liberty Vote, announced it has assumed full ownership and operational control of Dominion, which will cease to exist under its former name. The acquisition marks a significant shift for the voting machine manufacturer that secured nearly $1 billion in legal settlements from conservative media outlets over false election fraud claims.
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From Election Official to Election Technology Owner
Scott Leiendecker brings substantial election administration experience to his new role as owner of Liberty Vote. He previously served as Election Director for the city of St. Louis after working for the Missouri Secretary of State’s office. Both positions were appointments by then-Secretary of State Matt Blunt. Leiendecker currently owns KNOWiNK, an electronic poll book company used in multiple states. During his tenure as St. Louis Election Director, he worked alongside Ed Martin, who chaired the St. Louis Board of Elections while serving as what Axios described as “a loyal Trump surrogate.”
Leiendecker’s background in both election administration and election technology positions him uniquely to lead what he calls “a 100% American-owned election technology company dedicated to restoring trust in our elections.” In a statement to Axios, Leiendecker emphasized his commitment to “secure, fair, and verifiable” elections. His dual experience as both regulator and vendor raises questions about potential conflicts of interest, though Leiendecker has positioned himself as a neutral party focused on election security rather than partisan politics.
Dominion’s Transformation and Legal Legacy
Dominion Voting Systems effectively ceases to exist following the acquisition, according to a press release shared with Gizmodo. “As of today, Dominion is gone. Liberty Vote assumes full ownership and operational control,” the statement declared. The company’s transformation comes after it secured massive legal settlements from media organizations that promoted false claims about Dominion’s role in the 2020 election. Fox News paid $787 million to settle Dominion’s defamation lawsuit in 2023, while Newsmax agreed to a $67 million settlement earlier this year.
Most recently, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani reached a confidential settlement as part of Dominion’s $1.3 billion lawsuit against him. However, Business Insider reported that MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell remains in active litigation with the company. Lindell told Business Insider he was “not aware of any offers from Dominion or Liberty Vote to settle their legal disputes.” Interestingly, Axios reported that Liberty officials asked Dominion to settle several other defamation lawsuits against Trump allies as part of the acquisition agreement.
Paper-Based Security and Political Alignment
Liberty Vote’s emphasis on “paper-based transparency” aligns with former President Donald Trump’s frequent demands for paper ballots, despite most states already using paper-based voting systems. In his statement to Gizmodo, Leiendecker committed to “delivering election technology that prioritizes paper-based transparency, security, and simplicity so that voters can be assured that every ballot is filled-in accurately and fairly counted.” This focus comes as election security experts continue to advocate for paper ballot systems with robust audit capabilities.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, approximately 95% of voted ballots in the 2020 election had a paper record, either as hand-marked paper ballots or voter-verifiable paper audit trails. The emphasis on paper-based systems represents both a security improvement and a political calculation, given the persistent concerns among some Republican voters about election integrity. Leiendecker’s statements carefully navigate these political waters while maintaining a focus on technical solutions.
Industry Implications and Future Outlook
The acquisition occurs amid ongoing debates about election security and the voting technology industry’s consolidation. Dominion was one of three major voting system vendors in the United States, alongside Election Systems & Software and Hart InterCivic. The National Association of State Election Directors has repeatedly emphasized the need for diverse vendor options to maintain election security and resilience. Liberty Vote’s emergence as a new player could potentially reshape the competitive landscape.
Election security experts will closely watch how Liberty Vote implements its promised security enhancements. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has established voluntary guidelines for election security, including recommendations for paper-based systems and rigorous testing. How Liberty Vote balances its political connections with its technical mission will determine its acceptance across the diverse election administration community, which includes both Republican and Democratic election officials committed to secure voting processes.
