Vote buying at center of eastern Ky. judge-executive case

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The state Court of Appeals will weigh Tuesday whether it should uphold a lower court’s rare decision to throw out the results of an election because of vote buying.

Democrat Charles "Doc" Hardin defeated Republican John Montgomery by 28 votes on Nov. 4. Special Judge John David Preston ruled earlier this year at least four people were paid for their votes and others benefited from property improvements from county workers prior to the election.

Hardin denies any wrongdoing. He says there is no evidence connecting him to vote buying and that the property improvements were done to correct prior roadwork or to maintain county-owned roads.

The case is one of several that have emerged from eastern Kentucky in the last few years regarding vote buying in local elections.