Office of the Attorney General
Attorney General Conway Reminds Kentuckians about Election Fraud Complaint Hotline

Attorney General Jack Conway is reminding citizens that his office will once again operate the Election Fraud Hotline during Kentucky's general election on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. The hotline, 1-800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683) is available throughout the year during normal business hours. On Nov. 2, investigators from the Attorney General's office will staff the hotline from 6 a.m. EST until 7 p.m. EST.

"My office will do all that it can to ensure that Kentucky's election laws are upheld on Nov. 2, but we need citizens to help in this effort," General Conway said. "We need Kentucky voters to serve as our eyes and ears on election day and report any irregularities to our Election Fraud Hotline. Working together we can ensure a fair and honest election for all Kentuckians."

In Kentucky's 2010 primary election, the Attorney General's office received a total of 250 complaints by phone, email or letter reporting 279 possible election violations. Seventy-two of the complaints involved allegations of vote buying/selling. The Attorney General's office received a total of 355 complaints in the 2008 general election reporting 395 possible election violations. Ten of the complaints involved allegations of vote buying/selling while 132 involved procedural questions.

Attorneys and investigators from General Conway's Office of Special Prosecutions process and review the complaints received and, when necessary, refer them for investigation to the appropriate agencies including Kentucky State Police, Kentucky Board of Elections, U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI as well as local police and prosecutors.

Additionally, General Conway will have investigators from his office patrolling precincts across the Commonwealth to look for and respond to any voting irregularities. Investigators will also be conducting unannounced spot checks at random polling places to check for possible election law violations.

The Office of the Attorney General has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute violations of the Kentucky election laws. By law, the Attorney General administers programs to observe the conduct of elections, maintains the toll-free Election Fraud Hotline to receive reports of election law violations, investigates any such violations and takes appropriate enforcement action. The office also conducts post-election audits of six Kentucky counties, based on random selection, to look for any potential irregularities.