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Officials Defend Split Precincts

By Angela Hatton

Paducah, KY – Paducah City Commissioner Robert Coleman is seeking a state review of split precincts following his narrow loss to incumbent Mayor Bill Paxton. But the Paducah Sun reports local election officials say making changes to the voting system would be all but impossible. A split precinct occurs when city and non-city voters vote at the same location and use the same voting machine. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Les Fugate says when considering changes the rapidly shifting lines of school and legislative districts also have to be accounted for. And, Fugate says, any change won't eliminate poll worker error. McCracken County election board chairman Jeff Jerrell says the board doesn't plan any radical adjustments, but will work to more effectively track how many city ballots are cast in split precincts.