|
Crack Down On
Election Fraud
05/09/08 MRC/AP
Investigators
will fan out across Kentucky during the Democratic
presidential primary later this month in a move intended
to deter buying and selling votes in a state that's
notorious for such improprieties.
Attorney
General Jack Conway said investigators from the Kentucky
Bureau of Investigation will be among those monitoring the
balloting process during the May 20th election.
Kentucky
elections have routinely been tainted by accusations that
people have paid cash or even traded whiskey for votes.
Conway, accompanied by federal prosecutors, made clear
during a press conference this week that hanky-panky in
the primary election would not be tolerated. The election
involves races for a number of state and federal offices,
including the close presidential race between Senators
Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
Their track
record shows the seriousness of the warning. Numerous
arrests and convictions have been made for election fraud
in the past five years.
Secretary of
State Trey Grayson called election fraud "a scourge on the
democratic process" and lauded efforts by election
officials and prosecutors to crack down on polling
improprieties, most of which involve local races.
Grayson said
high-level races involving candidates for president
haven't been prone to election fraud in Kentucky. He said
he doesn't expect that to change this year.
Such fraud did
reach the level of the gubernatorial election last year.
An executive with a road contracting firm pleaded guilty
in January to a felony charge of making illegal campaign
contributions to candidates in last year's governor's
race.
Ken Taylor,
chief election fraud prosecutor for the U.S. attorney's
office in Lexington, said election fraud in local races
will fall under federal jurisdiction this year, because
national-level races are on the ballot.
Taylor said
prosecuting people who violate election laws is a priority
for federal prosecutors.
To report
election irregularities, call the attorney general's
election fraud hot line at 800-328-8683.
|
