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Scott Leiendecker’s recent acquisition of Dominion Voting Systems-the company central to numerous unfounded conspiracy theories following the 2020 U.S. presidential election-came with promises of significant change.

In a press statement, Leiendecker declared, “As of today, Dominion is gone,” a phrase that seemed to acknowledge the swirling misinformation that has plagued the company and resulted in substantial defamation settlements since the 2020 election.

He further emphasized a commitment to “turning the page” and “rebuilding trust in American elections” in a public letter featured on Liberty Vote’s website, the new entity under his leadership.

However, communications with county election officials reveal a contrasting narrative, prompting questions about the extent of the company’s transformation.

For instance, in Georgia-where the company holds a statewide contract-Liberty Vote representatives reassured local election offices via email that “Liberty Vote shares the same values as Dominion,” adding, “Same team, same support, different name.” NPR reviewed this correspondence.

In Colorado, home to Dominion’s former headquarters and where 60 out of 64 counties contract with the company, Boulder County’s Democratic clerk, Molly Fitzpatrick, spoke with Leiendecker soon after the acquisition. She also helped organize a call including all county clerks statewide.

“He emphasized his extensive background in elections and identified himself as an elections professional,” Fitzpatrick shared.

Leiendecker’s background includes two decades ago serving as a Republican elections director in St. Louis before founding KNOWiNK in 2011, which has grown into the largest provider of voter check-in technology across the United States.

While Liberty Vote’s website acknowledges KNOWiNK’s widespread presence in U.S. elections, the press release announcing the Dominion purchase omits any mention of KNOWiNK, instead portraying Leiendecker as a “nationally recognized election reform advocate,” suggesting a more outsider image.

Attempts to reach Leiendecker for comment were unsuccessful.

A Press Release with a Partisan Edge

The announcement of the Dominion sale subtly aligned with conservative election priorities, emphasizing Liberty Vote’s full American ownership and a mission to “restore public confidence in the electoral process through transparent, secure, and trustworthy voting systems,” including the use of hand-marked paper ballots.

Liberty Vote also pledged adherence to former President Trump’s March executive order on election security, despite the order being largely stalled by federal courts.

David Becker, director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research, remarked that he could not recall an election vendor seeking publicity in such a manner. He suggested that the politically charged tone of the announcement might fuel further skepticism rather than alleviate it.

“The announcement struck me as unusual,” Becker admitted. “Election officials are already under intense scrutiny and face a flood of misinformation about voting systems and their security. They want to avoid any additional controversy surrounding their equipment.”

Some election insiders interpret the contrasting public and private communications as a strategic rebranding effort designed to appeal to conservative jurisdictions that have avoided Dominion in recent years, rather than a shift toward partisanship.

One state election official, speaking anonymously, told NPR, “[Leiendecker] is seizing an opportunity to market Dominion’s technology to conservative areas that have shunned it for the past five years.”

“For him, it’s purely a business decision,” the official added.

Concerns Over a Partisan Shift

Several Colorado county clerks expressed frustration over the lack of prior notification before the sale was publicly announced.

Tiffany Lee, the politically independent clerk of La Plata County in southwestern Colorado, said, “We had no heads-up that this deal was even being discussed. It’s troubling that neither Liberty Vote nor Dominion reached out to us directly.”

The announcement, combined with Leiendecker’s Republican background, sparked questions among voters, Lee noted: “People asked, ‘Is this a Republican takeover? Are elections at risk? What’s going on?’ One of the most common concerns I’ve heard is, ‘Will we still have elections?'”

Election officials urge calm, emphasizing that the voting equipment used to scan and count ballots remains unchanged for now. In most jurisdictions, ballots counted with Dominion machines in 2024 will continue to be processed with the same technology in the 2026 midterms.

“From a security and technical standpoint, everything remains intact,” Fitzpatrick affirmed. “We continue to have multiple safeguards to verify the system’s integrity. The assurances we’ve provided for years still hold true.”

Will the Sale Sway Election Skeptics?

Colorado, like much of the nation, uses paper ballots, and state law mandates risk-limiting audits after every election. These audits compare machine counts to the original paper ballots to ensure accuracy.

Despite these safeguards, Colorado has been a focal point for false claims about election fraud.

This reality raises doubts about whether a rebranding campaign can convince those who remain convinced that Dominion was involved in election manipulation.

Following the sale announcement, Joe Oltmann, a conservative activist and prominent election skeptic based in Colorado, criticized Leiendecker on social media.

“This man is not a conservative… I despise what our country has become… it’s essentially a cartel wearing different labels while stealing our voice in an act of treason,” Oltmann wrote on Facebook.

Reporting by Miles Parks in Washington, D.C., and Bente Birkeland for Colorado Public Radio.