For the first time in a general election, voters in 34 Kentucky counties will cast ballots next month using a new digital scan voting system.Secretary of State spokesperson Les Fugate says some counties asked for the new devices amid voter concerns about problems that occurred in Florida during the 2000 presidential election, although there have never been any major issues with the old machines in Kentucky."We don't want to have a systerm that doesn't necessarily inspire confidence, and Secretary (of State Trey) Grayson has encouraged counties to get machines that have voter verified paper record," Fugate said.Fugate says the new system is similar to what has been used in Jefferson County for more than 20 years.Funding for the machines comes from the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.