Scytl
Spanish election-technology company specializing in electronic voting, election management, and results services.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Scytl is a Spanish election-technology company established in Barcelona in 2001. Its origins lay in cryptography research at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and its name refers to the scytale, an ancient device associated with coded communications. The company developed software and related services for electronic voting, election administration, voter participation, election-night results, and the digital publication of electoral information. Scytl grew from a research-oriented venture into an international supplier to public authorities, election administrators, and other institutions. Its systems were used or piloted in jurisdictions including Spain, the United States, Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Ecuador, Malta, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada. Its offering covered both remote internet voting and supporting functions such as voter registration, election management, results consolidation, tabulation, reporting, and multilingual public-results portals. In the United States, Scytl technology was reported as being used statewide in 12 states and by hundreds of local jurisdictions during the 2016 elections. In Europe, it participated in projects that consolidated and published election results across the European Union. The company expanded through acquisitions and partnerships. It acquired U.S.-based SOE Software in 2012, bringing in election-management and election-services capabilities, and acquired the software division of Gov2U in 2013. It also worked with organizations including TNS Opinion, Technocom, Vector ITC, Idox, Swiss Post, and Amazon Web Services. In 2016, the business was described as having been divided into separate operating entities, including Scytl Secure Electronic Voting, Scytl Voting Hardware, and Civiti, the latter formerly known as Open Seneca and focused on civic participation. Scytl attracted substantial venture investment and became profitable in 2006. It reported rapid revenue growth in the mid-2010s and considered an initial public offering, but postponed that plan amid weaker performance in developing markets. The company subsequently emphasized developed markets and non-government election applications. By 2017, it reported approximately 600 employees, with about one-third located in Barcelona. The company’s international expansion also exposed it to intense scrutiny. Its systems and deployments were associated with operational difficulties in Ecuador, cryptographic and security concerns in Norway, and extensive criticism of the sVote platform used in Switzerland. Swiss researchers and security specialists identified issues involving auditability, source-code transparency, vote manipulation risks, and the possibility of arbitrary code execution by a system operator. Swiss authorities consequently barred the system from use in the May 2019 referendums, and Swiss Post later acquired rights to the software. In May 2020, Scytl initiated insolvency proceedings while facing reported debts exceeding €75 million. A Spanish court formally declared the company bankrupt in June. In late October 2020, Service Point Solutions, later renamed Innovative Solutions Ecosystem, acquired Scytl and its U.S. subsidiary SOE. The post-acquisition operating status of the Scytl brand and its original corporate structure is not fully clear from the supplied sources. Scytl also became the subject of false claims following the 2020 U.S. presidential election, including allegations that election data had been secretly sent to Germany and that a server had been seized by the U.S. military. Scytl denied those claims, and the U.S. Army said the alleged raid did not occur.
History
Scytl was founded in Barcelona in 2001 after emerging from cryptography research at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. The company’s name alludes to the scytale, an ancient cryptographic instrument. Its initial technical orientation shaped a business focused on protecting electronic electoral processes and making voting and election administration available through digital channels. During the 2000s, Scytl developed electronic-voting and election-management software for public-sector and institutional customers. It became profitable in 2006 and expanded internationally through venture financing. The company reported raising $9 million in 2006 from investors including Balderton Capital and Nauta Capital. In 2014, it raised a further $104 million across several funding rounds involving investors such as Vulcan Capital, Sapphire Ventures, Vy Capital, Adams Street Partners, and Industry Ventures. Paul Allen was reported to have invested $40 million in that period. These figures are historical fundraising reports rather than current valuation or operating data. Acquisitions accelerated the company’s expansion. In 2012, Scytl bought SOE Software, a Tampa-based U.S. company serving election supervisors and implementing election technology. In 2013, it acquired the software division of Gov2U. By combining its cryptographic and internet-voting capabilities with election-management and civic-participation software, Scytl broadened its proposition beyond the act of casting a ballot. The company also formed partnerships for results services, cloud infrastructure, and national or regional deployments. Scytl’s systems were used in a wide range of electoral contexts. In Norway, it deployed online voting in 2011, but a cryptographic weakness was identified in 2013 and the program was discontinued in 2014. Ecuador used Scytl voting machines in parts of the country in 2014; the expected reporting timetable was substantially exceeded when results took more than a month. In Australia, Scytl supplied software associated with New South Wales’ iVote system, which was intended to improve access for voters with disabilities and others unable to vote conveniently in person. The system became the subject of security debate after researchers reported vulnerabilities in the surrounding environment, while the New South Wales Electoral Commission disputed that the issue affected the voting system itself. The company participated in European election-results infrastructure as well. A Scytl and TNS Opinion consortium consolidated and published results for the 2014 European Parliament elections through a multilingual website covering the European Union’s official languages. In Spain, Scytl worked with Technocom on results consolidation and publication for the 2015 general election and later partnered with Vector ITC for municipal and European election results. In Malta, Scytl and Idox supplied the eCount electronic vote-counting system, first used in 2019. Switzerland became one of Scytl’s most consequential deployments and controversies. Through a joint venture with Swiss Post, the company supplied the sVote platform to cantons allowing some citizens, including Swiss nationals abroad, to participate electronically in elections and referendums. The system was promoted as universally verifiable, but researchers criticized its complexity and transparency. A 2019 review reported a source-code weakness that could allow undetected vote alteration, while other researchers reported vulnerabilities that could permit an operator to execute arbitrary code on voting servers. Swiss authorities barred the system from the May 2019 referendums. Swiss Post subsequently acquired rights to the software in 2020. By 2017, Scytl reported about 600 employees, roughly one-third of them based in Barcelona. In 2016, its operations were described as divided among Scytl Secure Electronic Voting, Scytl Voting Hardware, and Civiti, formerly Open Seneca, which focused on civic participation. The company became an Amazon Web Services partner by 2018 and used Amazon’s cloud platform for its services. It also continued to pursue work in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and other markets. Scytl’s growth strategy encountered financial pressure. It had intended to pursue a public listing in 2014, but postponed the plan after disappointing performance in developing markets. It then emphasized developed markets and non-government customers. On 11 May 2020, it initiated insolvency proceedings with reported debts exceeding €75 million. A Spanish court declared the company bankrupt in June and began an asset-sale process. In late October, Service Point Solutions acquired Scytl, including SOE Software; Service Point Solutions was later renamed Innovative Solutions Ecosystem. The continuing status of Scytl as an operating brand and the full disposition of its product lines are not established by the supplied reference material. The company also became entangled in misinformation following the 2020 U.S. presidential election. False allegations claimed that results had been transmitted to Scytl’s German office for secret tabulation and that the U.S. military had seized a server. Scytl said the claims were untrue, noted that its Frankfurt office had closed in September 2019, and the U.S. Army rejected the raid allegation.
- 2020
Bankruptcy and acquisition
[1]Scytl enters insolvency proceedings, is declared bankrupt by a Spanish court, and is later acquired by Service Point Solutions.
- 2019
Swiss use of sVote is suspended
[1]Swiss authorities disallow use of Scytl’s sVote system in the May 2019 referendums after reported security deficiencies.
- 2018
New South Wales iVote contract
[1]New South Wales selects Scytl to provide software for the iVote online voting system through 2022.
- 2017
Company reports approximately 600 employees
[1]Scytl reports a workforce of about 600 people, with approximately one-third based in Barcelona.
- 2016
Operating structure is divided
[1]The business is described as being organized into separate entities covering secure voting, hardware, and civic participation.
- 2014
European Parliament results project
[1]A Scytl-led consortium provides consolidation and multilingual publication of 2014 European Parliament election results.
- 2013
Gov2U software acquisition
[1]Scytl acquires Gov2U’s software division.
- 2012
SOE Software acquisition
[1]Scytl acquires U.S.-based SOE Software, strengthening its election-management presence in the United States.
- 2011
Online voting deployed in Norway
[1]Scytl deploys electronic voting in Norway in partnership with the government.
- 2006
Company becomes profitable
[1]Scytl reaches profitability while continuing to develop electronic voting and election-management technologies.
Products and positioning
A global election-technology provider combining secure electronic voting, election administration, results processing, and civic-participation software.
Electronic voting software
Scytl Secure Electronic Voting
The company’s core secure-voting business developed software for remote and electronic voting. Its work covered cryptographic protections, voter authentication, ballot submission, verification, and election administration. Deployments and evaluations in several countries demonstrated both the demand for online voting and the technical and institutional difficulty of proving that a remote election is secure, private, auditable, and resilient.
Internet voting platform
sVote
sVote was Scytl’s internet-voting platform used in Switzerland through cooperation with Swiss Post and participating cantons. It was presented as a universally verifiable system intended to support secure electronic participation, including for some Swiss citizens living abroad. Researchers later criticized its complexity and reported source-code and server-security weaknesses; Swiss authorities stopped its use in the May 2019 referendums.
Accessible online voting · 2015
iVote software services
Scytl supplied software associated with New South Wales’ iVote online voting service. The system was designed to allow eligible voters, including people with disabilities or accessibility constraints, to vote remotely. Its security became the subject of public research and regulatory discussion, although the New South Wales Electoral Commission said one reported vulnerability involved a publicly accessible certificate connected to an analytics website rather than the voting platform itself.
Election management software
SOE Software
SOE Software was a U.S. election-technology business acquired by Scytl in 2012. Its products and services supported election supervisors and local election administration. The acquisition gave Scytl a stronger foothold in the American market and complemented its own secure-voting and election-results technologies.
Civic participation services · 2016
Civiti
Civiti, formerly known as Open Seneca, was the civic-participation part of Scytl’s reorganized business. It focused on digital services intended to support public participation and engagement beyond formal election-day voting.
Election results technology
Election results consolidation and publication
Scytl supplied systems for collecting, consolidating, processing, and publishing preliminary election results. These services included national and regional results portals, multilingual presentation, election-night reporting, and interfaces for public dissemination. Projects included European Parliament elections, Spanish elections, and other government or institutional results operations.
Controversies
2020
False election-fraud allegations involving Scytl
Following the 2020 U.S. presidential election, false claims alleged that Scytl had secretly tabulated manipulated election results in Germany and that the U.S. military had seized a company server. Scytl denied the claims, and the U.S. Army denied that the alleged raid occurred.
2019
sVote vulnerabilities in Switzerland
Researchers reported weaknesses in a publicly available version of the sVote source code and additional vulnerabilities affecting the voting infrastructure. The findings prompted criticism of the system’s transparency and auditability and contributed to Swiss authorities preventing its use in the May 2019 referendums.
2015
Security controversy involving New South Wales iVote
Researchers reported vulnerabilities in the environment surrounding the New South Wales iVote system that they said could affect vote manipulation, ballot secrecy, and verification. The electoral commission disputed that the issue compromised the voting system and attributed it to an exposed SSL certificate associated with an analytics website.
2013
Cryptographic flaw in Norway deployment
A flaw was identified in the cryptography of Norway’s internet-voting system. The 2013 election also saw some voters cast ballots both online and at polling stations. Norway ended the project in 2014, citing security, cost, and turnout considerations.
Brand decisions
2020
Insolvency and sale of the businessOtherBackground
Scytl faced reported debts exceeding €75 million and entered Spanish insolvency proceedings.
Action taken
A Spanish court declared the company bankrupt and its assets were placed into a sale process. Service Point Solutions subsequently acquired Scytl and SOE Software.
Aftermath
Service Point Solutions was later renamed Innovative Solutions Ecosystem. The present operating status of the Scytl brand is unclear from the supplied sources.
Reported debt. More than €75 million (2020 insolvency proceedings)
2019
Swiss suspension of sVoteOtherBackground
Public code review and independent security research raised concerns about vote integrity, auditability, and server security.
Action taken
Swiss authorities disallowed Scytl’s e-voting system from the 19 May 2019 referendums.
Aftermath
The system was not used in Switzerland thereafter according to the supplied reference, and Swiss Post later acquired rights to the software.
2018
New South Wales iVote software contractProduct launchBackground
New South Wales sought to maintain an online voting option for eligible voters who faced accessibility or other barriers to conventional voting.
Action taken
Authorities selected Scytl to provide iVote software through 2022.
Aftermath
The deployment maintained Scytl’s presence in Australian election technology while remaining subject to continuing security scrutiny.
Contract value. $1.9 million (2018 contract, with service period through 2022)
2016
Division of the business into specialized entitiesStrategyBackground
Scytl had expanded across voting software, voting hardware, and civic participation.
Action taken
The company organized activities into Scytl Secure Electronic Voting, Scytl Voting Hardware, and Civiti, formerly Open Seneca.
Aftermath
The structure separated core voting, hardware, and civic-participation activities, although the later status of each entity is not fully established in the supplied sources.
2014
Postponement of planned IPOStrategyBackground
Scytl had considered a public offering but encountered weaker performance in developing markets.
Action taken
The company delayed the IPO and redirected attention toward developed markets and election solutions for non-government customers.
Aftermath
The shift preserved a private, venture-backed growth strategy, but the company later experienced significant financial pressure and entered insolvency proceedings in 2020.
2014
Expansion into European election-results infrastructureOtherBackground
The 2014 European Parliament elections required coordinated collection and publication of results from all member states.
Action taken
A consortium involving Scytl and TNS Opinion consolidated and disseminated results through a multilingual website covering the European Union’s official languages.
Aftermath
The project positioned Scytl as a provider of election-results infrastructure in addition to voting software.
Recent events
- 2020
Scytl enters insolvency proceedings[1]
Bankruptcy
Scytl began bankruptcy proceedings in Spain in May 2020 while facing reported debts exceeding €75 million. A court formally declared the company bankrupt in June.
- 2020
Service Point Solutions acquires Scytl[1]
M&A · Bankruptcy
Service Point Solutions, later renamed Innovative Solutions Ecosystem, acquired Scytl and its U.S. subsidiary SOE in late October during the insolvency process.
- 2016
Scytl systems used in the 2016 United States elections[1]
Other
Scytl technologies were reported as being deployed statewide in 12 U.S. states and in approximately 980 local jurisdictions across 28 states.
- 2014
Norway ends Scytl internet-voting project[1]
Regulation · Other
Norway discontinued its internet-voting project after security concerns, limited evidence of higher turnout, and cost considerations. A cryptographic flaw had been reported in 2013.
- 2014
Scytl postpones planned public offering[1]
Other
Scytl delayed an intended initial public offering, citing weak performance in developing markets and shifting its focus toward developed markets and non-government customers.
- 2014
Scytl technology supports European Parliament election results[1]
Product launch · Other
A Scytl and TNS Opinion consortium provided results consolidation, projections, and multilingual publication services for the 2014 European Parliament elections across the European Union.
- 2013
Scytl acquires Gov2U software division[1]
M&A
The company acquired the software division of Gov2U, a firm associated with the National Democratic Institute, broadening its civic and election-software portfolio.
- 2012
Scytl acquires SOE Software[1]
M&A
Scytl acquired the Tampa-based U.S. election-technology company SOE Software, expanding its election-management and American market capabilities.
Sources2 sources
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