Changes

Smartmatic was officially incorporated on 11 April 11. 2000 in [[Delaware]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Division of Corporations - Filing - SMARTMATIC CORPORATION|url=https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/Ecorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx|website=State of Delaware - Division of Corporations|publisher=State of Delaware|accessdate=22 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Foreign Profit - SMARTMATIC CORPORATION|url=http://www.urru.org/papers/anexo1.2.jpg|publisher=State of Delaware|accessdate=22 July 2017}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/20/business/a-crucial-vote-for-venezuela-and-a-company.html?_r=1 "A Crucial Vote for Venezuela and a Company"] ''New York Times''. Retrieved 2017-01-19.</ref>  After receiving funds from private investors,<ref name="KNIGHTsmart" /> the company then began to expand.  Smartmatic was the main technology supplier for fourteen Venezuelan national elections. In March 2018, Smartmatic ceased operations in Venezuela.<ref name=":11">{{cite news|title=Smartmatic Announces Cease of Operations in Venezuela|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180306005537/en/Smartmatic-Announces-Cease-Operations-Venezuela|accessdate=8 March 2018|work=[[Business Wire]]|date=6 March 2018|language=en}}</ref>

Smartmatic was officially incorporated on 11 April 11. 2000 in [[Delaware]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Division of Corporations - Filing - SMARTMATIC CORPORATION|url=https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/Ecorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx|website=State of Delaware - Division of Corporations|publisher=State of Delaware|accessdate=22 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Foreign Profit - SMARTMATIC CORPORATION|url=http://www.urru.org/papers/anexo1.2.jpg|publisher=State of Delaware|accessdate=22 July 2017}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/20/business/a-crucial-vote-for-venezuela-and-a-company.html?_r=1 "A Crucial Vote for Venezuela and a Company"] ''New York Times''. Retrieved 2017-01-19.</ref>  After receiving funds from private investors,<ref name="KNIGHTsmart" /> the company then began to expand.  Smartmatic was the main technology supplier for fourteen Venezuelan national elections. In March 2018, Smartmatic ceased operations in Venezuela.<ref name=":11">{{cite news|title=Smartmatic Announces Cease of Operations in Venezuela|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180306005537/en/Smartmatic-Announces-Cease-Operations-Venezuela|accessdate=8 March 2018|work=[[Business Wire]]|date=6 March 2018|language=en}}</ref>

Smartmatic acquired Sequoia Voting Systems in 2005.<ref name="WPbizz">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103001224.html|title=Voting Machine Firm Denies Chavez Ties|last1=Goldfarb|first1=Zachary A.|date=31 October 2006|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=6 July 2017|quote=Bizta, a start-up technology company in Venezuela with some of the same owners as Smartmatic}}</ref><ref>''Business Wire'', 9 March 2005, [http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050308006237&newsLang=en Sequoia Voting Systems and Smartmatic Combine to Form Global Leader in Electronic Voting Solutions]</ref><ref name="CRONsmart">{{cite news|url=http://www.cronica.com.mx/notas/2009/472673.html|title=Smartmatic es una empresa de "comercio riesgoso" y... defraudadora|last1=Cedillo Cano|first1=Alejandro|date=1 December 2009|work=[[La Crónica de Hoy]]|accessdate=1 July 2017|language=es-MX}}</ref> Following this acquisition, Rep. [[Carolyn Maloney]] requested an investigation to determine whether the [[Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States|Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)]] had followed correct processes to green-light sale of Sequoia to Smartmatic, which was described as having "possible ties to the Venezuelan government".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1095&Itemid=61|title=Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney|website=Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref> The request was made after a March 2006 following issues in [[Chicago]] and Cook County, where a percentage of the machines involved were manufactured by Sequoia, and Sequoia provided technical assistance, some by a number of Venezuelan nationals flown in for the event.<ref name="abclocal">ABC Local, 7 April 2006, [http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=4065162 Alderman: Election Day troubles could be part of 'international conspiracy']</ref> According to Sequoia, the tabulation problems were due to human error, as a post-election check identified only three mechanical problems in 1,000 machines checked<ref name="abclocal" /> while election officials blamed poor training.<ref>''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', 23 March 2006, [https://web.archive.org/web/20121025084646/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-143572463.html New machines, poor training slowed count: Precincts uncounted even after Wednesday]</ref> Other issues were suspected to be related to software errors linked to the voting system's central computer.<ref name="NYTties">''[[New York Times]]'', 29 October 2006, [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/washington/29ballot.html U.S. Investigates Voting Machines’ Venezuela Ties]</ref>

Smartmatic acquired Sequoia Voting Systems in 2005.<ref name="WPbizz">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103001224.html|title=Voting Machine Firm Denies Chavez Ties|last1=Goldfarb|first1=Zachary A.|date=31 October 2006|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=6 July 2017|quote=Bizta, a start-up technology company in Venezuela with some of the same owners as Smartmatic}}</ref><ref>''Business Wire'', 9 March 2005, [http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050308006237&newsLang=en Sequoia Voting Systems and Smartmatic Combine to Form Global Leader in Electronic Voting Solutions]</ref><ref name="CRONsmart">{{cite news|url=http://www.cronica.com.mx/notas/2009/472673.html|title=Smartmatic es una empresa de "comercio riesgoso" y... defraudadora|last1=Cedillo Cano|first1=Alejandro|date=1 December 2009|work=[[La Crónica de Hoy]]|accessdate=1 July 2017|language=es-MX}}</ref> Following this acquisition, Rep. [[Carolyn Maloney]] requested an investigation to determine whether the [[Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States|Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)]] had followed correct processes to green-light sale of Sequoia to Smartmatic, which was described as having "possible ties to the Venezuelan government".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1095&Itemid=61|title=Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney|website=Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref> The request was made after a March 2006 following issues in [[Chicago]] and Cook County, where a percentage of the machines involved were manufactured by Sequoia, and Sequoia provided technical assistance, some by a number of Venezuelan nationals flown in for the event.<ref name="abclocal">ABC Local, 7 April 2006, [http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=4065162 Alderman: Election Day troubles could be part of 'international conspiracy']</ref>  

Following the request, Smartmatic and Sequoia submitted a request to be reviewed by the CFIUS while also denying links to the Venezuelan government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsmax.com/pre-2008/voting-machine-firm-denies-hugo/2006/10/30/id/684637/|title=Voting-Machine Firm Denies Hugo Chavez Ties|date=2006-10-30|website=[[Newsmax]]|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> The company disclosed that it was owned by Antonio Mugica (78.8%), Alfredo Anzola (3.87%), Roger Pinate (8.47%), [[Jorge Massa Dustou]] (5.97%) and employees (2.89%).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtech.com/security/Voting-Machine-Company-Vows-No-Connection.html|title=Voting Machine Company Vows No Connection to Venezuelan President Chavez|website=www.govtech.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> Smartmatic subsequently sold Sequoia and later withdrew from Cook County in December 2006.<ref name="WSJpe">{{cite news|title=Politics & Economics: Smartmatic to Shed U.S. Unit, End Probe Into Venezuelan Links|last1=Davis|first1=Bob|date=22 December 2006|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]]|ref=Page A6}}</ref>

Following the request, Smartmatic and Sequoia submitted a request to be reviewed by the CFIUS while also denying links to the Venezuelan government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsmax.com/pre-2008/voting-machine-firm-denies-hugo/2006/10/30/id/684637/|title=Voting-Machine Firm Denies Hugo Chavez Ties|date=2006-10-30|website=[[Newsmax]]|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> The company disclosed that it was owned by Antonio Mugica (78.8%), Alfredo Anzola (3.87%), Roger Pinate (8.47%), Jorge Massa Dustou (5.97%) and employees (2.89%).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtech.com/security/Voting-Machine-Company-Vows-No-Connection.html|title=Voting Machine Company Vows No Connection to Venezuelan President Chavez|website=www.govtech.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> Smartmatic subsequently sold Sequoia and later withdrew from Cook County in December 2006.<ref name="WSJpe">{{cite news|title=Politics & Economics: Smartmatic to Shed U.S. Unit, End Probe Into Venezuelan Links|last1=Davis|first1=Bob|date=22 December 2006|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]]|ref=Page A6}}</ref>

''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' wrote that "Smartmatic scrapped a simple corporate structure" of being based in Boca Raton "for a far more complex arrangement" of being located in multiple locations following the Sequoia incident.<ref name="WSJpe" /> Though Smartmatic has made differing statements saying that they were either American or Dutch based, the [[United States Department of State]] stated that its Venezuelan owners "remain hidden behind a web of holding companies in the Netherlands and Barbados".<ref name="MTus" /><ref name="BBCsmart" /> ''[[The New York Times]]'' states that "the role of the young Venezuelan engineers who founded Smartmatic has become less visible" and that its organization is "an elaborate web of offshore companies and foreign trusts",<ref name="NYTties" /> while [[BBC News]] states that though Smartmatic says the company was founded in the United States, "its roots are firmly anchored in (Venezuela)".<ref name="BBCsmart" /> Multiple sources simply state that Smartmatic is a Venezuelan company.<ref name="SMARTvenezuelan">{{plainlist|{{bullet}}{{cite news|last1=Tiglao|first1=Rigoberto D.|title=US Caracas Embassy: 'Smartmatic is a riddle'|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/us-caracas-embassy-smartmatic-is-a-riddle/232249/|accessdate=1 July 2017|work=[[The Manila Times]]|date=1 December 2015}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite book|title=Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), One Year After Dubai Ports World: Congressional Hearing|date=7 February 2007|publisher=[[Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States]]|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=978-1422320471|page=7<!--|accessdate=22 December 2016-->}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite news|last1=Uy|first1=Jocelyn R.|title=Smartmatic faces probe|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/785566/smartmatic-faces-probe|accessdate=25 October 2016|work=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|date=14 May 2016}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite magazine|last1=Essers|first1=Loek|title=Belgian Region's Decision to Use New Voting Machines Reignites E-voting Debate|url=http://www.cio.com/article/2391971/e-voting/belgian-region-s-decision-to-use-new-voting-machines-reignites-e-voting-debate.html|magazine=[[CIO magazine|CIO]]|accessdate=31 October 2016|date=2012-09-24}}}}</ref> Smartmatic maintains that the holding companies in multiple countries are used for "[[Tax avoidance|tax efficiency]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-10-30/news/0610300235_1_electronic-voting-election-officials-electronic-voting|title=Election officials OK with probe|last1=McCormick|first1=John|date=30 October 2006|work=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|accessdate=1 July 2017|language=en}}</ref>

''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' wrote that "Smartmatic scrapped a simple corporate structure" of being based in Boca Raton "for a far more complex arrangement" of being located in multiple locations following the Sequoia incident.<ref name="WSJpe" /> Though Smartmatic has made differing statements saying that they were either American or Dutch based, the [[United States Department of State]] stated that its Venezuelan owners "remain hidden behind a web of holding companies in the Netherlands and Barbados".<ref name="MTus" /><ref name="BBCsmart" /> ''[[The New York Times]]'' states that "the role of the young Venezuelan engineers who founded Smartmatic has become less visible" and that its organization is "an elaborate web of offshore companies and foreign trusts",<ref name="NYTties" /> while [[BBC News]] states that though Smartmatic says the company was founded in the United States, "its roots are firmly anchored in (Venezuela)".<ref name="BBCsmart" /> Multiple sources simply state that Smartmatic is a Venezuelan company.<ref name="SMARTvenezuelan">{{plainlist|{{bullet}}{{cite news|last1=Tiglao|first1=Rigoberto D.|title=US Caracas Embassy: 'Smartmatic is a riddle'|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/us-caracas-embassy-smartmatic-is-a-riddle/232249/|accessdate=1 July 2017|work=[[The Manila Times]]|date=1 December 2015}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite book|title=Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), One Year After Dubai Ports World: Congressional Hearing|date=7 February 2007|publisher=[[Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States]]|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=978-1422320471|page=7<!--|accessdate=22 December 2016-->}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite news|last1=Uy|first1=Jocelyn R.|title=Smartmatic faces probe|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/785566/smartmatic-faces-probe|accessdate=25 October 2016|work=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|date=14 May 2016}}<br />{{bullet}}{{cite magazine|last1=Essers|first1=Loek|title=Belgian Region's Decision to Use New Voting Machines Reignites E-voting Debate|url=http://www.cio.com/article/2391971/e-voting/belgian-region-s-decision-to-use-new-voting-machines-reignites-e-voting-debate.html|magazine=[[CIO magazine|CIO]]|accessdate=31 October 2016|date=2012-09-24}}}}</ref> Smartmatic maintains that the holding companies in multiple countries are used for "[[Tax avoidance|tax efficiency]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-10-30/news/0610300235_1_electronic-voting-election-officials-electronic-voting|title=Election officials OK with probe|last1=McCormick|first1=John|date=30 October 2006|work=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|accessdate=1 July 2017|language=en}}</ref>