Just One Vote

Just ONE Vote

As a result of the recent elections, the runner-up for the Tompkinsville mayoral seat Jerry R. Hodges has not only asked for a recanvas, but is contemplating legal action with a lawyer.

Hodges, currently a Tompkinsville commissioner, ran against Bev McClendon, a former Monroe County sheriff, and the incumbent Windell Carter. Hodges lost the mayor's race by one vote. The total tallied to 324 votes to McClendon's 325.

Hodges has asked for a recount of the votes, which is scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. on Thursday in the Monroe County Clerk's office. As of Tuesday, Hodges had not filed a law suit, but has said that is his plan.

There were 1,130 absentee votes in the county, which he said is too many. "If you look around at the other counties, Monroe County is way out of proportion on absentees," he said. "I think in the May primary we voted more than Jefferson County."

According to Teresa McMillin Sheffield, county court clerk, there were 794 people who cast absentee ballots on the machine in Sheffield's office prior to the Nov. 7 election. There were an additional 327 people who cast paper or mail-in absentee ballots.

Hodges thinks that there were some people who did not vote in the correct precincts. "I have a list of some people who were in the county that voted in the city," he said. "I have a list of people in the city who were not allowed to vote in the city. One of them being our city policeman who lives at the city park."

Hodges also found some elected officials who were seeking re-election assisting absentee voters. "Which is illegal," he said. But Sheffield said it's not.

An elected official can assist a voter, if, for instance, the voter is handicapped and needs help getting to the polling place. According to Kentucky Revised Statute 117.0863, anyone requiring assistance in casting an absentee ballot by mail or on the voting machine in the county clerk's office must complete the voter assistance form required by KRS 117.255. The law also states that the person providing