Secretary of State
Officials Join Together to Monitor Upcoming Election for Voter Fraud

(Pikeville, KY) Officials from various agencies from across the Commonwealth visited Pikeville, KY to emphasize that vote fraud will not be tolerated in the May 16th Primary Election.  Secretary of State Trey Grayson, Attorney General Greg Stumbo, and Ken Taylor, the chief election fraud prosecutor for U.S. Attorney Amul Thapar in the Eastern District of Kentucky, discussed the importance of this year’s elections and how each office is working to protect the election from potential fraud.  Similar efforts are underway in the Western District of Kentucky with U.S. Attorney David Huber.

Secretary Grayson, the chief elections official of the Commonwealth and Chairman of the State Board of Elections noted that the cooperation between the agencies had been “tremendous” but that many of these efforts require the help of citizens.

“We are working to rid Kentucky of election fraud and have taken a number of steps to do so.  We now turn to citizens and ask them to report anything that they may find unusual concerning the election,” stated Grayson.

Officials from each agency have been meeting in recent weeks to prepare for the election, discussing any potential issues and problem areas. 

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 a toll-free hotline to receive reports of election law violations, investigates any such violations, takes appropriate enforcement action and conducts post election audits based on random selection in counties throughout Kentucky.

“As Attorney General, I look forward to enforcing our election laws to ensure a free and fair election process,” said Stumbo.  “Our most important job is ensuring the integrity of elections and holding accountable those who engage in the crime of vote fraud.  On election day, we will have a strong presence across Kentucky,” Stumbo said. 

The Election Fraud Hotline is 1-800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683).  The hotline is available throughout the year during normal business hours.   On May 16, 2006, calls will be received from 6a.m. EDT until 7p.m. EDT.

The State Board of Elections will also be fielding calls about the election from now through election day.  Citizens are encouraged to contact their local county clerk or the State Board of Elections with general election concerns or for election information.
 
Because federal races will be on the ballot, the offices of the U.S. Attorney’s for both the Western and Eastern Districts in Kentucky will be conducting their traditional Voting Integrity Initiatives.

"The bedrock foundation of democracy is the concept of 'one person, one vote', a concept which requires each voter to make his own informed voting decision.  Any type of vote fraud—whether  it be as simple as handing out ten dollar bills in the parking lot, or as sophisticated as hiding vote buying behind vote hauling checks—perverts democracy and dilutes the votes of honest citizens.   Whenever and wherever this office has jurisdiction, we pledge to pursue election fraud in whatever form it arises," remarked Ken Taylor.

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