Six Kentucky counties were chosen in a random drawing this morning to undergo independent inquiries for any potential irregularities that may have occurred during the May 16th primary election.  The counties are:  Hickman, Mercer, Spencer, Montgomery, Nelson and Trimble.

The post-election audits, which are required by law (KRS 15.243), will be conducted by the Attorney General’s Office.  In each county, these routine inquiries will include checking election forms and interviewing county officials.  The selection of these counties does not imply that irregularities are suspected.  Time for completion of the audits cannot be predicted at this time.

In addition to the post election audit investigation, follow-up investigations are continuing regarding complaints to the Attorney General’s election fraud hotline.  A total of 508 election-related calls were received from 77 counties.  The Kentucky Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is conducting inquiries into 73 complaints of possible election irregularities and 36 complaints have been referred to other state and local agencies for follow-up (specifics of those calls cannot be released.)  The remaining calls do not require further inquiry.

On primary election day, Stumbo personally visited precincts in western Kentucky observing the conduct of the election.  KBI agents carried out aggressive statewide election monitoring, with two agents assigned to each of Kentucky’s six congressional districts.