Patrick Byrne is alleging that election technology used by major voting-system companies can ultimately be traced back to Venezuelan interests and Chinese manufacturing, arguing that the underlying systems are less independent than their branding suggests.
During an exchange with Sarah Westall, Byrne laid out a sweeping account of how he believes election technology developed in Venezuela and later spread through corporate acquisitions and licensing arrangements.
Westall introduced the discussion by pointing to Byrne’s claims about Venezuela and noting that his case against Dominion had recently been dropped.
“He’s talking about the fact that Venezuela is the source of these election systems. His case against Dominion was just recently dropped. Pretty incredible his story. You know, is he telling the truth? You’re going to have to make that decision based on what he’s telling you.”
Byrne responded by arguing that election systems should not be assumed trustworthy simply because they are sold under different corporate names.
“Nothing’s trustworthy. We actually know how it all works. The true history of these, as crazy as it sounds, we have it all now.”
He then alleged that a criminal network took control of Venezuela beginning in 1999 and described that network as inseparable from the Venezuelan government.
“A mafia came to power in Venezuela in 1999. It’s called the Mafia of the Suns, and it’s the government of Venezuela. The government of Venezuela is the mafia, and the DOJ has, in the last couple years, labeled it a narco, a global narco-narcotics kingpin, and a global terrorist organization, and sort of all the bad designations you can get.”
Byrne argued that Venezuela’s vast oil reserves gave those in power an enormous financial incentive to remain in control.
“Why it’s so important? Venezuela has 500 billion barrels of oil. For comparison, the number two in the world is Saudi Arabia with 300 billion. Saudi Arabia is only 60 percent of the size of Venezuela. That’s a massive fortune.”
He claimed that after taking control of the government, those figures nationalized the country’s oil industry and stole trillions of dollars.
“And they took over the government, and they stole that. They nationalized the oil company, and they have since looted about $3 trillion. We know into the mafia pockets.”
According to Byrne, maintaining political control required control over the election system as well.
“If you’re going to do that, there’s one other thing you need to steal. You need to steal the election system, so you never get kicked out of power.”
He alleged that Venezuelan officials infiltrated the country’s election commission and developed a computerized system that could be manipulated before a 2004 election.
“And they took over. They infiltrate and took over the independent Consejo Nacional, electoral the election commission of Venezuela, and that an ’04 election coming. They knew they were down 65-35, and they adapted a computer system that they could rig, and they rigged their own election.”
Byrne further claimed that engineers were later sent to the United States and started Smartmatic.
“They sent some engineers to the United States, who started a company called Smartmatic, but they rigged their own election.”
He argued that the prospect of controlling election technology became highly attractive to political actors.
“And when politicians learn that you can rig elections, it’s like a conquistador hearing about El Dorado. They lose their mind. It’s the ring of power. It’s like Lord of the Rings.”
Byrne then alleged that cartel money was used to expand the election-technology business into the United States.
“The cartel put 120 million dollars into the business. It acquired an American company and put its technology in it, and then that technology got bought by another, by Dominion, just like when you buy a laptop, if it’s Dell or HP or Lenovo, on the inside it’s all Windows operating system.”
He used that comparison to argue that different election-system brands can rely on the same underlying technology despite appearing to be separate companies.
“When you buy various leading brands of election equipment, no matter which one they buy, the operating system, when you piece through all the corporate acquisitions and divestments and spin off and licensing, blah blah blah. You, the actual core technology is owned by some Venezuelan mafia figures, and we have that dead. We have them dead to rights on that.”
Byrne also alleged that key hardware and firmware used in election machines originates in China.
“And the machines turn out they look like they’re made in Taiwan, but they’re actually made. The key components, the motherboard, is made in a factory 60 miles outside of Beijing, China, and the firmware, the most basic level of software on the machine, which controls like the printer and everything else, that also comes out of China.”
Watch the full episode, including how 15 engineers defected and blew the whistle, how NGOs were involved, and how they have all of it. Watch at https://t.co/pJ8zsoeTmL
— Sarah Westall (@sarah_westall) November 8, 2026 [1]
His claims amount to a broad allegation that Venezuelan political interests, corporate election technology and Chinese manufacturing are interconnected through a chain of acquisitions, licensing and component sourcing.
Westall made clear at the beginning of the exchange that viewers would have to decide for themselves whether Byrne’s account was credible. Byrne, meanwhile, presented the allegations as the result of research into the history and ownership of election technology.