A Smartmatic representative presented their company’s voting system during a meeting of the Secure, Accessible & Fair Elections Commission on August 30, 2018. The system included scanners, touch screens, and printout options. However, the technology company was at the center of false fraud claims surrounding the 2020 presidential election. They recently settled a defamation lawsuit against a conservative news outlet on April 16, 2024.
The settlement between Smartmatic and One America News Network is part of a broader legal effort by voting equipment companies that were targeted by baseless conspiracy theories inaccurately accusing them of changing votes to impact the election outcome. Specifically, they were accused of being involved in preventing former President Donald Trump’s reelection.
Smartmatic is based in Florida and used their voting technology in only one location – Los Angeles County, known as a Democratic stronghold within a state that was not a key battleground state during the presidential election. The uproar and misinformation surrounding their involvement in the election prompted legal action to address the false accusations made against them.
The resolution of this defamation lawsuit marks a step towards clearing the company’s name and reputation from baseless allegations that emerged in the aftermath of the election. This legal development is part of a larger trend where voting technology companies are seeking legal recourse to address false narratives and conspiracy theories that have circulated following the 2020 election.