FRANKFORT — Complaints of vote-buying are already trickling in from the 13,000 absentee ballots distributed in advance of the May 28 primary, election and law-enforcement authorities said Tuesday.

        Secretary of State John Y. Brown III declined to identify the location of the reports. “I want all counties to be on notice that they're being watched,” Mr. Brown said.

        Federal and state officials gathered at the Capitol to emphasize their efforts to combat election fraud and vote buying.

        “Our message is simple: Election fraud dilutes the worth of votes honestly cast,” said Greg Van Tatenhove, U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Kentucky. “As a crime against both the individual and the government, it will be dealt with promptly and aggressively.”

        The oversight will take many forms.

        The Kentucky Attorney General's Office will dispatch about 20 monitors around the state to potential problem areas, according to Karen Timmel, director of special prosecutions.

        The U.S. attorneys' offices in the eastern and western district have designated prosecutors to field complaints. The FBI office in Louisville is answering phones 24 hours a day. Postal Service inspectors will also be involved if the mails are used.

        There are 7,115 candidates for various offices around the state on the primary ballot.

        Election fraud can take many forms, from simple vote buying to the more pernicious practice of taking advantage of the elderly or illiterate.

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