Election Board Views Machines

The Breathitt County Election Board met in a brief regular session on Tuesday in preparation for the May 19, 2026, Primary.

The Board accepted a letter from Breathitt County Sheriff John Hollan appointing a substitute member to avoid any conflicts that might arise with his name on the ballot.

In the letter, submitted on January 5, Brad Herald, a deputy in the Sheriff’s office, was named as Hollan’s replacement until after the May primary election.

Herald took his seat for the meeting with Becky Watts and Cameron Adams present.  Republican Board Member Yawnie Burton joined the meeting by telephone for informational purposes but did not vote or take any action.

The Board approved the minutes of the December meeting and discussed the upcoming filing deadline and the candidate ballot position draw, as set by Kentucky statute, scheduled for January 15th.

County Court Clerk Becky Watts briefly discussed the request from County Election Board members to donate their state-required salaries back to the county.  Watts noted that the current law requires her to pay the members for their duty.  Court Clerk Watts informed the members present that they could choose to keep it or donate it back after they had been paid.

She told the Election Board members present that she would include the information at the February meeting when the entire Board could be present.

The brief ten-minute meeting adjourned after members toured the ballot machine storage area in the courthouse and talked about the setup and operation of the machines.