Conservative activists want to use software with controversial origins to check NC’s voter rolls

By: Lynn Bonner

Outlets: North Carolina Newsline

Published: February 13, 2026

Words: 1,168

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

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Conservative activists are courting North Carolina elections officials, offering use of unproven software they say will find fraudulent voters.

Brian LiVecchi, chief of staff to state Elections Director Sam Hayes, agreed in email exchanges to witness the demonstration of a computer program called ELLY, developed by retired physician John W. “Rick” Richards.

Richards is the same Georgia resident who created the controversial voter registration matching software EAGLEAI (pronounced “eagle eye”) that conservative activists …

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