Former Republican Official Acquires Dominion Voting Systems Amid Ongoing Election Controversies

Former Republican Elections Official Buys Dominion Voting Systems A company at the center of false conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 presidential election has been acquired by a firm led by a former Republican elections official. Liberty Vote, the new owner of Dominion Voting Systems, announced the purchase on Thursday. The acquisition comes as multiple judges have put on hold an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April 2021, seeking sweeping changes to election policies. The order was met with opposition from voting rights groups and some lawmakers who argued it would restrict access to the ballot. Liberty Vote's CEO, Thomas Hicks, a former Republican elections official, said in a statement that his company is committed to ensuring the integrity of American democracy through secure and reliable voting systems. "We believe that Dominion Voting Systems has been unfairly maligned by false conspiracy theories," Hicks said. "Our goal is to restore confidence in the electoral process." Dominion Voting Systems was a target of false conspiracy theories from President Trump and his supporters after the 2020 election, with some claiming the company's voting machines were rigged against him. However, numerous investigations and audits have found no evidence to support these claims. The acquisition has raised concerns among voting rights groups who fear that Liberty Vote may use its new ownership to push for changes to election policies that could restrict access to the ballot. "This is a disturbing development," said Dale Ho, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Voting Rights Project. "We need to be vigilant in protecting our democracy from those who seek to undermine it." The purchase price was not disclosed by Liberty Vote, but the company has vowed to continue operating Dominion Voting Systems as a separate entity. Background on Dominion Voting Systems: Dominion Voting Systems is a Canadian-based company that provides voting equipment and software to election officials across the United States. The company's machines were used in numerous states during the 2020 presidential election, including battleground states such as Michigan and Wisconsin. The company has been at the center of false conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election, with some claiming its voting machines were rigged against President Trump. However, numerous investigations and audits have found no evidence to support these claims. Context: In April 2021, President Trump signed an executive order seeking sweeping changes to election policies, including stricter voter ID laws and limits on mail-in voting. The order was met with opposition from voting rights groups and some lawmakers who argued it would restrict access to the ballot. Multiple judges have since put the order on hold, citing concerns that it would infringe on states' rights to set their own election policies. Next Developments: The acquisition of Dominion Voting Systems by Liberty Vote is likely to be closely watched by election officials and voting rights groups. The company has vowed to continue operating Dominion Voting Systems as a separate entity, but some have raised concerns about the potential for changes to election policies under new ownership. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the integrity of American democracy will depend on the actions of companies like Liberty Vote and their commitment to ensuring secure and reliable voting systems. *Reporting by Fortune.*