FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 18, 2016) - Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes today convened federal and state law enforcement officials ahead of the Nov. 8 general election and amidst claims from some political candidates that elections are "rigged." The Kentucky Election Integrity Task Force, created and chaired by Grimes, meets before and after each primary and general election to discuss efforts to defend against and root out any effort to improperly influence elections. Members include the United States Attorney's office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, the Kentucky Attorney General's office, and Kentucky State Police. Grimes has denounced claims that the Nov. 8 election will be "rigged" nationwide, and a bipartisan collection of other Secretaries of State across the country have also criticized that rhetoric. "Claims that our elections are rigged are fanatical scare tactics and bear no resemblance to the truth," Grimes said. "Such claims discount the good, bipartisan work of 120 county clerks and 15,000 precinct election officials throughout 3,700 precincts do to ensure everyone has a chance to exercise their right to vote and to make certain that our elections are fair and accurate. We all share a common determination to deliver free and fair elections every election cycle, no matter who is on the ballot." Laws that Grimes championed and the task force supported help ensure that Kentucky elections are free and fair, including one that makes lists of absentee voters secret until after Election Day, helping protect them from voter intimidation or vote buying. "Our task force and our election officials are vigilant when it comes to defending the right to vote and ensuring our election process is free of fraud and abuse," said Grimes. "I'm proud of the work of the task force, which we have convened before every statewide election since 2012. Our ongoing efforts will continue to improve Kentucky's election laws to safeguard our elections. I call upon voters and poll workers around Kentucky to be alert and report unusual election activity to election and law enforcement officials," said Grimes. The Office of the Attorney General has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute election law violations in Kentucky. The Attorney General's office operates a hotline to receive allegations of election law violations and conducts post-election audits of randomly selected counties. The number for the Attorney General's Election Fraud Hotline is 800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683). Before the Nov. 8 general election, citizens may contact their county clerk or the State Board of Elections, or visit GoVoteKY.com<file://personal.users.sos.ky.gov/UserProfiles/Downloads/bqueen/Downloads/govoteky.com> to request election information. Members of the news media covering the election may be in the voting room for the limited purpose of filming the voting process. However, the media may not conduct interviews with voters inside the voting room, record the identity of voters, or disrupt the voting process. See KRS 117.236.
