According to an article in the New York Post a lawsuit is expected to be filed by the Department of Justice that would seek to block the already-completed merger of the nation’s two largest voting-machine makers, Election Systems & Software (ES&S) and Premier Election Solutions (formerly Diebold Election Systems). The article cites “a person close to the situation” that the DoJ lawsuit, “if successful, would effectively undo the merger of Diebold’s Premier Elections Solutions with Election Systems & Software, a $5 million deal completed in September.”
Earlier The Post reported that “antitrust officials at the Justice Department were examining the ES&S-Diebold marriage because the deal would give ES&S up to 75 percent of the voting-machine market, which has triggered worry among voting-rights activists and rivals who argue the deal gives ES&S too much power and little incentive to improve its products.” Verified Voting has estimated that if the merger stands, the combined companies would count as much as 70% of votes nationwide. Senate Rules and Administration Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer has announced his intention to hold hearings on the merger and a variety of lawsuits have been submitted in various district courts.