[♪♪] Good evening.

Welcome to Kentucky Tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thanks for joining us.

With eight days to go before the May 16th primary, we conclude our candidate conversations.

Tonight, we’re talking to Secretary of State Michael Adams, who is running for a second term.

He has two Republican primary opponents.

They did not meet our criteria to appear.

When one candidate in a race meets our criteria and accepts our invitation, that conversation is approximately 15 minutes in length.

We want to hear from you.

Send us your questions by Twitter at K-Y TONIGHT K-E-T.

Send an email to K-Y TONIGHT at K-E-T dot O-R-G. Or use the web form at K-E-T dot O-R-G slash K-Y TONIGHT.

Or you can call 1-800-494-7605.

Welcome, Secretary Adams.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERISM I WILL BE BACK IN OCTOBER AS WELL.

>> IN ADDITION TO BEING THE STATE'S CHIEF ELECTION OFFICIAL YOU HANDLE BUSINESS ENTITIES PAPERWORK, YOU ALSO HOUSE THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS OF THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER STATE'S RECORDS.

YOU RAN BACK IN 2019 ON MAKING IT EASIER TO VOTE AND HARDER TO CHEAT.

HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED THAT?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

YOU CAN'T LOOK AT ANY OTHER PERIOD IN KENTUCKY HISTORY WHERE WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH ON THE ELECTION FRONT AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.

WE'VE DONE MORE IN THREE YEARS THAN IN TWO CENTURIES AND WE ARE THE ONLY STATE IN AMERICA THAT HAS THE BALANCE RIGHT.

WE'RE MAKING IT EASY TO VOTE, WE ARE EXPANDING ACCESS WHICH WAS OVERDUE AND WE ARE TIGHTENING SECURITY.

AND OTHER STATES YOU HAVE RED STATES THAT ARE TIGHTENING SECURITY AND TIGHTENING ACCESS AND BLUE STATES ARE GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WE ARE THE STATE LEADING THE COUNTRY AND MAKING IT EASIER TO VOTE AND HARDER TO CHEAT.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WAYS YOU HELPED TO DO THAT.

150,000 DECEASED PEOPLE WERE REMOVED FROM KENTUCKY'S VOTER ROLES SINCE 2020.

SHOULD THAT NOT HAVE HAPPENED AUTOMATICALLY.

IS THIS STILL A PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY WITH THERE BEING MORE REGISTERED VOTERS THAN CITIZENS IN A COUNTY AND HOW YOU ARE GETTING THE THAT ISSUE?

>> WE HAVE MADE AMAZING STRIDES.

WE'RE WORKED TO TAKE PEOPLE OFF THE ROLES WHO ARE DEAD AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT MOVED AND PASSED AWAY.

WE'VE MADE PARTNERSHIPS I'VE WORKWORKED WITH GOVERNOR DE SAN' TEAM IN FLORIDA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY TO CHECK OUR INFORMATION.

THE NOTION WE HAVE MORE CITIZENS THAN VOTERS IS TOTALLY FALSE.

THAT'S JUST ANOTHER MYTH THAT IS OUT THERE.

WE'VE GOT 4.5 MILLIKEN KENYANS AND 3.5 ON THE VOTERS ROLES.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT VOTER FRAUD IS THAT HAPPENING IN KENTUCKY IS THERE PROOF OF IT?

>> WHEN I WAS ON YOUR PROGRAM IN 2019 I SAID SOME SAY THAT VOTER FRAUD IS A MYTH.

THAT IS WRONG IT IS A REAL THING.

AND PEOPLE THINK ALL THE ELECTIONS ARE RIGGED IS ALSO FALSE.

THE TRUTH IS IN THE MIDDLE.

WE SAW INDICTMENTS HANDED DOWN ON A VOTE BUYING SCAM.

I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR HERE THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT.

THEY DIDN'T SUCCEED.

AND THE GUY THAT TRIED TO PULL AT OFF LOST HIS ELECTION.

AND WE CAUGHT THESE PEOPLE AND THEY ARE BEING PROSECUTED.

BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT.

WHEN WE HAVE VOTE FRAUD IN KENTUCKY AND IT HAPPENS LIKE WE HAVE MURDER AND ROBBERY AND CRIMES WE WILL HAVE IT.

BUT WE'RE CATCHING IT.

AND THAT'S A FAR CRY FROM THE CRAZY MYTHS THAT MY OPPONENTS ARE PUTTING OUT THERE ABOUT THE MACHINES BEING RIGGED THE INTERNET AND MILLIONS OF VOTES MOVED AROUND AND MANIPULATED IS TOTALLY FALSE.

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN TAKE OUR GUARD DOWN ON PREVENTING ELECTION FRAUD.

>> Renee: ARE ELECTION MACHINES RIGGED TO THE INTERNET?

>> THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AND THEY ARE NOT NOW.

IN FACT WE HAVE [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] WHEN PEOPLE SEE ON KET AND ELSEWHERE THEY SEE NUMBERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN THERE IS NO WIRE FROM MY OFFICE TO THE NETWORK THAT TRAVELS THE VOTES THROUGH.

WE COUNT THEM FROM OUR OFFICE AND WE GIVE THEM TO YOU.

AND FOLKS SEND IN INFORMATION THEY GET FROM RUNNERS.

OUR ELECTIONS ARE MORE SECURE NOW THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN.

>> Renee: AND MANY IN THE MEDIA COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SPEED WHICH IT TAKES TO GET THE ELECTION RESULTS.

MANY TIMES IT'S LATE IN THE EVENING.

>> WE ARE THE FASTEST STATE IN THE COUNTRY IN TABU LATING OUR VOTES.

OTHER STATES IT TAKES WEEKS TO COUNT THEIR VOTES.

IN KENTUCKY WE GO TO BED AT NIGHT WITH 99% OF THE VOTES IN.

I WISH THEY WERE ALL IN AT 7:00 P.M.

IT'S NOT DOABLE.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MILLIONS OF VOTES BEING CAST AND THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS POLL WORKERS AND OTHERS PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

>> Renee: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLL WORKERS.

I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION I'VE ASKED CANDIDATES, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS THE DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DO YOU BELIEVE HE WON IT FAIR AND SQUARE IN 2020?

>> I BELIEVE HE IS A LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I ALSO THINK THERE WAS VOTE FRAUD IN OTHER STATES.

WE HAVE SEEN CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS AND CONVICTIONS OUT OF THE 2020 ELECTION NOT HERE BUT IN OTHER STATES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MODEST NUMBER OF VOTES IMPACTED.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE SORT OF MILLIONS OF VOTES THAT WOULD HAVE HAVE TO HAVE BEEN MOVED AROUND.

>> Renee: TYPICAL WHAT A NORMAL ELECTION HAVE PRODUCED?

>> I THINK YOU WILL HAVE FRAUD ARE IT IN ANY ELECTION.

MAYBE ANY ANY BUT MANY ELECTIONS.

IF OTHER STATES RULES ARE NOT AS RESTRICTED AS OURS ARE YOU CAN HAVE FRAUD.

MY OPPONENTS ARE SAYING THAT THE PILLOW GUY WAS RIGHT THAT CHINA HACKED INTO OUR MACHINES AND MANIPULATING MILLIONS OF VOTES AROUND THAT IS CRAZY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> Renee: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT TURNOUT.

IN 2019 THE PRIMARY TURNOUT WAS 19%.

YOU'RE PREDICTING WHAT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> I WAS CAUTIOUSLY PREDICTING 15% HOPING IT WOULD BE BETTER BASED ON NUMBERS I'VE SEEN FROM TODAY FROM ABSENTEE BALLOT PORTAL REQUESTS THAT WE GOT PLUS PEOPLE THAT CAME TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO VOTE EARLY WITH AN EXCUSE I'M THINKING IT'S LIKE 10.

I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE TURNOUT HAS BEEN SO LOW.

>> Renee: IT STILL COULD BE WE COULD SEE REBOUND WITH EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING THAT BEGINS ON THE 11TH.

IS IT THE ROLE OF THE KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE TO BOOST THAT TURNOUT?

AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULD?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE ARE A FEW FACTORS THAT COME INTO PLAY.

ONE YOU NEED ACCESSIBLE VOTING WE'VE QUADRUPLED THE NUMBER OF DAYS OF EARLY VOTING.

I THINK THE CAMPAIGNS ARE THE ONES THAT DRIVE THE TURNOUT.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE THIS TIME THEY ONLY HAVE PRIMARIES IN TWO OF THE SIX RACES FOR THE RACES HAVE ONE CANDIDATE SO THERE IS NO PRIMARY AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF HAS NOT SEEN IS IN DANGER.

SO THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A DRAW ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

PRIOR CYCLES WHERE WE HAD ONE PARTY WITH A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY THE TURNOUT IS LOW.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT INDEPENDENT VOTERS YOU HAVE SAID IN THIS STUDIO AND OTHERS NOW INDEPENDENTS HAVE A DOUBLE-DIGIT STANDING IN REGISTERED VOTERS AT 10%, REPUBLICANS HAVE 50,000 MORE VOTERS THAN DEMOCRATS.

YOU'VE CALLED FOR INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHOSE TAX DOLLARS GOES TO PRIMARY ELECTIONS YOU MADE THE CASE THAT [AUDIO INTERRUPTION].

>> WE SHOULD BE LIKE OTHER STATES THAT DO THIS BETTER.

IT'S UNFAIR WE ASK TAXPAYERS REGARDLESS OF THEIR PARTY TO PAY FOR OUR ELECTIONS AND WE PUT UP A WALL AND SAY YOU CAN'T VOTE.

I ALSO THINK IT TENDS TO KISS FOR THE THE OUTCOMES OF SOME RACES THAT WE ONLY LET THE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP VOTE IN A CASE LIKE THIS IF THE TURNOUT IS 10%, THE MOST FAR LEFT DEMOCRATS AND THE MOST FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MOTIVATED AND THEY COME OUT AND VOTE.

THE MORE CENTRIST CENTER LEFT, PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AS MOTIVATED AND IT DISTORTS THE OUTCOMES YOU GET ON ELECTION DAY.

>> Renee: WHAT IS THE CASE YOU WOULD MAKE TO CHANGE IT?

>> I AM A PRACTICAL GUY.

AND THE ABSTRACT IS GREAT BUT THE PRACTICAL ARGUMENT I WOULD MAKE TO MY PARTY AND THE LEGISLATURE AT SOME POINT IT'S GOING TO BEGIN TO DISTORT THE ELECTIONS IN YOUR CAUCUS AND IT WILL ENDANGER POTENTIALLY LEADERS WE HAVE AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND WE'VE SEEN THAT ALREADY.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT POLL WORKERS AND WAYS TO VOTE.

GETTING POLL WORKERS MAY NOT BE THIS PRIMARY CYCLE BUT IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

WHOSE JOB IS THAT?

IS IT THE COUNTY CLERK'S?

THE PARTY'S?

YOURS?

WHOSE JOB IS IT?

>> AS A MATTER OF LAW IT IS THE JOB OF THE TWO PARTIES.

NOT THE BUT IT IS BY LAW THE JOB OF THE COUNTY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTIES TO PRODUCE THE POLL WORKERS AND SEVERAL DO A GREAT JOB AND I'M HAPPY WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE AND WE ARE OTHER PLACES WITH NO G.O.P.

DUE TO POLARIZATION IN MANY CASES.

AND SOMETIMES A COUNTY IS SO REPUBLICAN THEY DON'T HAVE AN ACTIVE PARTY.

SO THAT'S A FACTOR.

A LARGER FACTOR IS JUST SOCIAL DECLINE AND THE DECLINE OF INSTITUTIONS PEOPLE ARE NOT JOINERS LIKE THEY USED TO BE.

THEY GET ON-LINE BUT THEY DON'T JOIN A PARTY.

THE PARTIES HAVE BEEN IN DECLINE THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY.

SOMETHING I WOULD SUGGEST THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDER IS WE GIVE MONEY TO THE COUNTY PARTIES.

THERE IS A CHECK OFF I CHECK IT OFF MYSELF TO GIVE $2 TO THE G.O.P., A BUCK 50 TO THE STATE PARTY.

MY COUNTY PARTY DOES A GREAT JOB BUT IF YOUR COUNTY PARTY DOES NOT PRODUCE VOLUNTEERS TO WORK THE POLLS THEY SHOULD BE DEFUNDED FROM THE TAXPAYERS.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT ON-LINE OR INTERNET VOTING OR MAIL-IN BASED VOTING SYSTEMS DO YOU AGREE OR APPROVE OF ANY OF THOSE WAYS OF VOTING?

>> I BELIEVE IN ABSENTEE VOTING THAT IS IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT SINCE 1945.

I SUPPORT THAT.

I DON'T SUPPORT INTERNET VOTING I THINK NO GOOD CAN COME OF THAT.

EVEN IF WE COULD PROMISE IT WOULD BE SECURE, GOSH, HALF MY JOB RIGHT NOW IS PERSUADING PEOPLE THE INTERNET IS NOT PART OF THE PROCESS.

I THINK IT WOULD HURT TURNOUT, COUNTERINTUITIVE.

IT WOULD HURT TURNOUT IF WE DO ELECTIONS OVER THE INTERNET PEOPLE WOULD NOT TRUST THEM.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT DURING THE 2020 AND THE 2022 ELECTIONS THERE WERE LONG LINES TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WERE THERE ENOUGH LOCATIONS AVAILABLE?

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE FURTHER WORK WITH THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ALLOW THAT SO THERE IS NOT A REPEAT OF THE LONG LINES IN 2024?

>> THOSE LINES WERE EPISODIC.

THERE WERE PLACES.

BUT THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED.

I PROTESTED SOME OF THE COUNTY PLANS AND I WAS OVERRULED.

THERE'S CHECKS AND BALANCES.

I DID ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO STRENGTHEN MY HAND AND GIVE ME ENHANCED VETO AUTHORITY TO COMPEL THESE COUNTIES TO OPEN MORE LOCATIONS.

I DO THINK IT'S HELPFUL THAT VOTERS VOTE EARLY.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN A LINE YET FOR EARLY VOTING.

I EN COUNSEL PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND MORE LOCATIONS FOR ELECTION DAY THAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT.

>> Renee: SO THERE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE AN APPROPRIATION TO HELP CLERKS TO DO THAT IS THAT CORRECT?

>> I DON'T THINK THE FUNDING IS THE PROBLEM.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS GETTING ENOUGH POLL WORKERS AND LOCATIONS.

WE HAVE A DUEL ISSUE.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF LOCATIONS STOP VOLUNTEERING.

CHURCHES HAVE INCREASINGLY STOPPED VOLUNTEERING.

THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY IN 2020 SOME CHURCHES HAD PRO-LIFE MATERIALS ON THE CAMPUSES WHERE THERE WAS A VOTING LOCATION AND THAT WAS SEEN AS UNFAIR BY PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPOSED TO AMENDMENT 2.

THAT IS CREATING AN ISSUE.

ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE BIDEN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY'VE THREATENED LITIGATION AGAINST COUNTY CLERKS FOR NOT BEING ADA COMPLIANT.

I BELIEVE IN COMPLIANCE BUT WE DON'T HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF LOCATIONS THAT MEET ALL THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ADA AND THEY SHOULD BE GRANDFATHERED IN.

>> Renee: SOME OF THE THINGS THAT EMERGED THERE WERE STORIES ABOUT YOU STILL PRACTICING ELECTION LAW FOR OUT OF STATE CLIENTS INCLUDING THAT OF AN ELECTION DENIER.

NO OTHER CURRENT EXECUTIVE OFFICE HAS OUTSIDE EMPLOYER.

CAN YOU HELP THE VIEWERS UNDERSTAND HOW THAT DOES NOT CONFLICT?

>> I DON'T PRACTICE LAW IN KENTUCKY.

THE ONLY LAW I PRACTICE IS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH TO USE MY SKILLS AS AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT MY OFFICE IN COURT.

BUT I DON'T DO ELECTIONS IN KENTUCKY.

I'VE BEEN APOLITICAL IN THE JOB.

>> Renee: SOME WOULD SAY THE OPTICS ARE NOT GOOD, SECRETARY?

>> I DON'T SEE IT.

>> Renee: IN THE LAST 45 SECONDS GIVE YOUR PITCH FOR THE PRIMARY VOTERS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHY YOU SHOULD BE THE NOMINEE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE?

>> WELL, I'M RUNNING AGAIN TO PROTECT OUR ELECTIONS.

I'VE PROVED I'M THE ONLY ONE TO VOTER VOTES AND EXPANDED AUDITS THESE THINGS WERE THE REPUBLICAN WISH LIST AND NEVER GOT DONE.

WHEN REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE OF MY LEADERSHIP, I'VE BROUGHT THOSE THINGS TO OUR ELECTIONS.

I'VE BEEN FAIR.

I'VE BEEN NONPARTISAN.

THAT IS WHY I HAVE A PRIMARY I'VE BEEN A DECENT PERSON AND WORKED WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.

IF I PAY A PRICE FOR LEADERSHIP IS FINE BUT IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND ALL KENTUCKIANS ARE BETTER OFF FOR IT.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION.

NEXT ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" A PREVIEW OF THE MAY 16TH PRIMARY.

AND JOIN US EACH WEEK FOR KENTUCKY EDITION AND OF COURSE BILL BRYANT AND A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS WILL BE HERE FRIDAY TO DISCUSS THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

UNTIL I SEE YOU AGAIN THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

TAKE GOOD CARE AND I WILL SEE YOU SOON.