♪ ♪ >> Issue is not this is not cable news.

Hear more of last night's vigorous discussion of campaign 2024.

>> We have a president who everyone votes for and yet not everyone has an equal say as to who gets elected.

>> Why one history and constitutional law professor says about keeping or ditching the electoral College.

>> We're not sure what's going to happen with the thought of that can be very scary.

>> And if this election is making you nervous, you're not alone.

It's a chance.

It's a chance to get a roof over your head that you probably will not have any other way.

Just like it was for me.

>> Plus, how Habitat for Humanity is serving to people who served their country.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky edition on this Election Day.

Can you believe it?

We're here.

It's November.

The 5th.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for kicking off your Tuesday night with us.

We are finally at the finish line.

The polls have closed in Kentucky's Eastern time zone and they will soon close in Kentucky Central Time Zone in about a half hour.

And we are watching and the big races in Kentucky as part of tonights election twenty-twenty for coverage.

In addition to picking a president voters in Kentucky are choosing 6 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

>> They are races in the Kentucky State House and state Senate voters and the 5th judicial district are picking a new Supreme Court justice.

There are 2 constitutional amendments on the ballot.

Of course.

Plus voters in some towns and counties are deciding on the future of medical marijuana in their area.

In addition to all of that, there are council and school board races all over the Commonwealth.

We have reports of some voting problems today, though, in Jefferson County, The Courier Journal reports delays because of 68 problems at polling locations across Jefferson County.

The newspaper says 41 of those problems are related to voting machines.

The Kentucky Democratic Party filed a motion asking the Jefferson County Clerk's office to extend voting hours as a result of those delays.

Kentucky Attorney General Russel Coleman addressed the Jefferson County problems and election integrity in general as he spoke from the Election Integrity Command center in Frankfort this morning.

>> What you see behind me at both electronically and on telephone wrist.

Our our team responding to our elections fraud hotline.

This is a mechanism for Kentuckians to report suspected election law violations in Kentuckyian you can call to report a suspected violations at 1, 8, 100, 3 to 8.

But that is 1, 803 to 8 vote or through the attorney general's website.

We have received up to 04:00PM yesterday the the 800 number and the online system we received 357 complaints from across the commonwealth of suspected vote fraud and voter improprieties.

These calls a range from questions about voting procedures too, and actual allegations of vote buying or voter selling.

As of 10 o'clock this morning, fairly recent Intel, this command center has received 156 calls or online increased online reports from 32 counties, broad sector of counties from west to east across the common.

Well, these reports are then referred process here, refer to the CIA, referred 2 are seasoned.

Investigators said detectives from the Department of Criminal Investigations who are then working with federal, state and local partners from west to east across our Commonwealth.

We want to show Kentuckians we take voter fraud seriously.

We take election integrity seriously.

We responded immediately took a voting machine offline and Laurel County, it's been widely reported and engage with the color there in Laurel County this morning and Jefferson counties, many of you have reported there are multiple delays, multiple issues.

And multiple polls across Jefferson County, technical issues.

My understanding is our understanding.

These have all been there's also later this month, in addition to the efforts having the 1, 8, 103 to 8 vote system up and running 24 7 prior to today.

This effort here today within the next few days, we will randomly I will randomly select 12 counties for additional increase for additional on it in these counties, DCI detectives will speak with election officials.

We interviewed voters and no review documents in our special prosecutions unit will take those investigations and present your injuries and all 12 of those counties.

What you saw me do from the small Bourbon Barrel earlier this year and the attorney general's Capitol office.

When the polls close later today and the winners are announced.

My hope is that every from the mountains to the Jackson purchase, if you feel confident that our election is free, fair and secure in our constitutional order has worked.

>> A reminder of that voter hot Line.

General Coleman mentioned a couple of times.

That number is 1, 803 to 8 vote.

You can call that to report any suspected vide voting violations.

The Kentucky Board of Elections is debunking a claim about election ballots already marked for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Lexington Herald-Leader says an image of a pre-market ballot for Harris is making the rounds on social media.

The board of Elections says it received no complaints about pre marked ballots among the 785,000.

Kentuckians who voted by mail or during the 3 day early voting period.

We caught up with Congressman Morgan McGarvey at the polls.

The Democrat from Louisville says Kamala Harris will improve the country and bring people together if she's the next president.

After casting his vote to Congressman McGarvey said abolishing the Electoral College would improve our presidential elections.

>> So I've I've had that position for a long, long time since being in the state legislature that we need to get rid of the Electoral College.

It's a fairness issue and I think it would make the campaign is better.

I think having a campaign in every single state where every person knows that their voice truly matters and he gets elected.

President United States is a better system.

>> McGarvey is seeking a second term in Congress.

He is opposed by Republican Mike Craven will have more about the Electoral College and the debate over abolishing it.

And just a few minutes here on Kentucky EDITION.

Control of the U.S. House of Representatives is on the line as Americans cast their ballots.

That control has implications for members of the Kentucky delegation.

Congressman Brett Guthrie, a Republican from the second district faces Democrat Hank Lenderman.

If got 3 wins and Republicans take control of the lower chamber Guthrie will try to become chair of the House, Energy and Commerce Committee.

Congressman Andy Barr, a Republican from the 6th district, is challenged by Democrat Randy Cravens.

If Barr winds and the Republicans take the House, he'll try to become chair of the House Financial Services Committee.

Now we talked about today's election and it was a robust last night on KET Kentucky.

Tonight our panel of Democrats and Republicans talked about all the key races, including the presidential race.

It was a vigorous discussion.

Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Eldridge was critical of former President Donald Trump and his rhetoric during the campaign that led to a discussion about whether the Democrats are doing the exact >> We can sit here and let used to make it seem like the Democrats hands are clean on.

Calling different let you know voters names, right?

You have the president of the United States who literally called anybody who is supporting Donald Trump.

Garbage without character is that was not what that means.

That a miscarriage.

You have the other than they had.

Nice start.

Let me say to us, please, you have a target and Mark Cuban that said.

>> Intelligent, strong women are never around Donald Trump and will never be around and support Donald Trump.

What are you saying to voters?

I mean, as you sit here and listen, I will never stand up and defend some of the rhetoric that Donald Trump has said.

Right?

Because I don't agree with a lot of it, but I don't think we can sit here and say that one party is hands are clean because the rhetoric on both sides has to end.

>> This is not about science.

I'm glad that you can live in reality where the President United States can misspeak and then apologize for it.

I'm glad you live in a reality where Mark Cuban can make comments and then explain himself.

You know me better and that I know.

I'm glad you live in a reality where those things are equal to.

The president of the former president of United States.

Still saying today that members of the Central Park 5 deserve to be under the jail.

I never slept less than you did not say and the issue is not this is not cable news.

>> People get caught up in the passion to campaigns on both sides.

The other side stay, but it's best to and can.

I was a point where people just maybe need to check it up a little bit and just not go as far as certain people.

Certain people, certain people who yesterday, yes, it on the sides.

I'm sorry, but it's not have enough people on your side with the people in our city, people who are calling for members of the press to be shot.

The people who are encouraging cops.

>> To rough up accused acute, not convict anybody simulated in their mail pieces that certain state representative you are really is.

And I'm I'm a letters and I'll say this is a problem with and it needs to encourage both sides and it needs to simmer down on your side of the studio.

>> So they did not always talk all over each other.

And they also talked about amendment 2 and some of the key legislative races.

You can see all of that in here.

Most of it online on demand at KET DOT Org.

Slash K watch tonight.

It's a good one.

So join us tonight.

It may not be as vigorous as last night as we bring you the numbers and we analyze the big races with our panel of Kentucky political experts.

We've got the best in the state.

Joining us tonight.

Our coverage begins at 8 Eastern 7 central over on KET too.

And online at KTVA Dot Org.

Voters cast their ballots for president.

But the Electoral College is how the president is elected.

They are increasing calls to end the system with polls showing a majority of Americans favoring picking a winner through the popular vote.

We spoke to Joshua Douglas, a UK law professor in voting rights for professor.

He's an up election law, voting rights expert about the pros and cons of the Electoral College system.

>> The Electoral College obviously does protect to some of the smaller and more are all states and having more of a say of who becomes the president.

And that's kind of the on the lot of people focus on.

If I were making the case in favor of the Electoral College, I don't know that that necessarily focus on that because, you know, in this year, basically everyone's focus on just 7 states and people and all of the other states don't feel like their vote is going to make much of a difference because of those 7 battleground states.

But there is I think of the best argument I've heard in favor of keeping the Electoral College is if you have a really, really close election that the Electoral College can focus the attention on the one state that will make a difference.

And so if you have to have a recount, for example, and like in 2000, we KET says one state we were dealing with.

If you had a national popular vote and it was so close, that recount could make the difference for litigation might make the difference than you have that going on in all 50 states.

And that could be more chaotic.

So to me, the best argument, although it's not one with which I agree, but the best argument in favor of the Electoral College system is not so much that it gives you now rural states more say or do you know, doesn't overweight the city's because we're already giving more say, too, some voters as compared to others.

It's just that the states that happened to be or 50, 50 split in terms of Democrats and Republicans.

But do I talk to college does essentially give the winner of a close election.

The mirage of a larger win.

That means that we don't have recounts and litigation in all 50 states.

We have a system in which we think of the ideal of equality.

All right.

The idea of one person, one vote and the reality is that in many states people don't think that their vote makes a difference because they know the political winds of that state.

And so they know that the state is likely to go for one side, you And so why bother casting a ballot in the in the presidential election, at least a lower turnout as a result.

And look, the president is the only person who represents everyone in America.

That should be everyone that shouldn't be that the people in one state, you know, get to have more of a say than the others.

It even for getting the swing state issue and the fact that the Electoral College, you know, essentially comes down to 7 swing states.

Just the numbers are over, waited so, you know, the small state population say a state like Wyoming gets 3 electoral college votes for the population.

There and a much bigger state like Texas or California, obviously has way more population but doesn't get the corresponding higher level of electoral College votes, teacher, not just red or not, just blue in every state.

The Democrat is going to get probably at least 40, 40 maybe 45% and the Republicans going to get probably 40 45%.

And then it's, you know, the swings in the middle there that the side who gets all the Electoral College votes in the 48 8.48.

States that do it does winner take all Maine and Nebraska split.

There's out based on congressional district.

So, you know, you have in 2024, you know, the Donald Trump voters and California, which there's a ton of them, they might think.

Well, the likelihood that that Kamala Harris is going Californias is so much higher that my vote doesn't count.

And the same thing.

And, you know, a very red state, Texas probably will go for Donald Trump.

And what about the Harris voters in I think the Electoral College does make it feel like for a lot of people that their vote doesn't really matter.

And it also is not an equal system.

You know, at the founding, maybe it made sense perhaps because of how travel and KUNA communication worked.

But now, you know, we have a president who everyone votes for and yet not everyone has an equal say as to who gets elected.

>> Douglas says there's a plan being promoted to ensure that the presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes nationwide is elected president.

It's called the National Popular Vote.

Interstate Compact under the agreement, a group of states would award all their electoral votes to whichever presidential ticket wins the overall popular vote in the 50 states.

Well, according to the American Psychiatric Association, 73% of American adults reported being anxious about the 2024 presidential election.

You might be one of them.

One mental health expert from the University of Louisville Health offer some advice on how to protect your mental health during and after the election.

That makes up today's medical news.

>> One of the reasons that we often struggle with anxiety is the end them.

So part of the and tomorrow is is we're not sure what's going to happen with the result is going to be in.

That can be very scary.

And so will be.

I have a feeling we're.

The expectation like I said, he's a no, no, we can't control that can create a lot of fear and anxiety and again, and that's a very normal thing to have.

If you feel like they used to be a tremendous amount of time on social media and news channels we just recommend that you disengage.

It's continuing to exacerbate the feelings of stress and anxiety and worry, then you need to turn off the TV.

You need to stop scrolling on social media.

You need to you can do something that brings you, joy that we center you.

We talked a lot about grounding techniques and grounding techniques can be as simple as I'm going to turn the TV off.

And I'm gonna let him walk outside.

I mean, yeah, guarding a minute.

I'm going to read the book and >> Anything that can can you can disengage and take a break because it's we all know that it's everywhere right now and it's hard to get So you have to find the place that brings up some and some joy temporarily.

I think it's OK that if the result is a positive result of the result, you want it.

I think it's OK to celebrate that, you know, but you also need to be respectful and KET in mind that there might be people that you're surrounded by the do not get the result they were anticipating.

So, you know, being kind to one another I think is really important.

If you didn't get the result, I think that it's OK to honor those feelings.

I think that it's okay to feel.

You know, maybe side are discouraged and disappointed and those are OK, I think, you know, I think it's important that process that was somebody that you trust and then.

The most important thing is that if you're still struggling with that.

You know, is disappointment and anxiety and locals that stress is starting to feel it and able to leverage rules of the to use at its meeting one to 2 weeks later.

Then you made that point.

Want to reach out personal or professional help and talk to someone like a licensed therapist or counselor or social worker.

But again, I just want to emphasize that in the first couple days afterwards, it's completely OK, normal to feel me disappointed or we're sad.

But Higgins making sure that you're honoring those feelings and processing with someone that you trust.

>> Gilley says people should expect to see a lot of misinformation and rumors after the election is over and that could add to anxiety levels.

She says one way to combat that is by setting a 30 minute time limit on social media.

Good advice.

♪ Kentucky's fish and Wildlife commissioner will stay on the job.

And a Kentucky library is back in business after water damage.

Our Toby Gibbs has those stories and more in this.

Look at headlines around Kentucky.

♪ >> Rich Storm will remain as commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Despite past disagreements with Governor Andy Beshear, a Kentucky Lantern reports the commission voted unanimously to give storm another four-year contract as commissioner.

Even members of the commission appointed by the governor voted to reappoint Storm.

The commission and the Beshear administration have clashed over the length of storms contract and over executive branch, oversight of procurement and conservation easements.

And expanded state Let police know at drivers and passengers have special communications needs before they might be pulled over the Bowling Green Daily News says people can apply as part of the expanded Communication designation program.

The program already covered the death and hard of hearing a new state law expanded the program in January.

Advocates say this will be helpful to Kentucky ends with autism.

Nelson County's main library branch is open again after a July flood caused when a cap first on a water fountain.

The Kentucky Standard says the library closed because of the flooding and used the repair work as an opportunity for a library makeover.

Instruction on Covington's.

One Nky center is now past the halfway point.

According to WCPO in Cincinnati, work began on the for story.

47,000 square-foot building in August of 2023.

It's the future home to a dozen organizations, including the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Thomas, more University and the Bar Association of Northern Kentucky.

♪ The State Journal reports Frankfort honored its former mayor and state representative and get be Graham during a friendsgiving last Wednesday.

It's an annual event to raise money for worthy causes.

People attending praise the 95 year-old Graham for his lifetime of public service.

With headlines around Kentucky, I'm told begins.

♪ >> 3 Pulaski County veterans have new roofs over their heads.

Thanks to the efforts of the Habitat for Humanity's Veterans Build initiative.

The homeownership program has the goal of supporting veterans living on fixed incomes and preventing homelessness.

Kentucky edition caught up with the Pulaski County branch of Habitat for Humanity to learn more about the program.

>> There's a lot of conversations that happened about homelessness in the veterans community.

>> But not a lot of talk about how that happens.

And to the largest Rogers.

>> Are actually affordability and suitability.

And that's what this program is designed to adhere to address.

Gear village is our first Veterans Build initiative project.

It is 3 veterans build colleges or one bedroom, one bathroom designed for single or married couples are veterans who KET so many veterans every day because of the pressures of life that they can't cope with.

You know.

>> And they're not even aware of the help that is available for them.

This this program offers.

>> Help in every avenue that they can think of to help veterans, you know, transition and mental health and mental support is available for them in financial help in every avenue, full support in this this program right here, the Habitat for Humanity in in being selected for a home.

You're not just setting it and good luck.

It's up to you.

There's a whole safety net underneath me this time.

It's a chance it's a chance to get a roof over your head that you probably will not have any other way.

Just like it was for me.

It's like we used to pray for these days and >> pray for a day where we didn't really have to worry about where with lair head at night.

And I think that that has been something that people don't realize the gravity of one.

You.

I don't know where you're going to lay your head at night.

Consider yourself lucky because just having like the basic necessities in life is so important and every person is deserving of that.

>> A big part of habitats Veterans build initiative is actually giving veterans like myself a way to continue to serve by serving other veterans for unless they and they do so because they're very service-oriented individuals to be able to do something that totally benefited someone else with no personal benefit to me and to be able to work hard and accomplish this mission and actually take this on like a mission like when I was in the military, it really was rewarding thing to watch her face homelessness and >> other struggles in life.

And for an entire community to come together to provide a home for her has just been the most amazing experience.

>> I've learned through this whole experience how much veterans care about other veterans and now.

I never really thought about that before.

I've never been able to be around other veterans supporting other veterans.

I can't wait for someone else to be able to experience what I'm experiencing right now.

I can't wait to help someone else.

Feel the way I feel right now.

>> The veterans of Village built by Habitat takes its name from First Sergeant Lewis, D Garrett and African-American Somerset, native and Buffalo Soldier and the United States Army Calvary during World War.

2 Garrett was a pillar of the community who worked as a tailor after returning from the war.

♪ >> We thanks to technology you can vote from almost anywhere these days.

Astronauts onboard the International Space Station voted early.

They posted this picture of themselves today wearing red, white and blue socks after voting, their ballots were beamed back to mission control in Houston.

They were among the 1.2 million people who voted early in Harris County, Texas.

For those of you voting here on Earth who will have a complete recap of the Kentucky results tomorrow on Kentucky edition.

We'll amendment to pass what will be the makeup of the new Kentucky General Assembly?

Are there any upsets?

We'll have answers to it all Wednesday on Kentucky Edition, which, you know, to join us for at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

Thanks so much for watching us.

This election day.

More election coverage coming up on KET Maine.

>> And K T 2 as well.

Thanks again.

We'll see you real soon.

Take care.

♪ ♪