U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell said she expects the jury to begin deliberating by mid-afternoon today. . Testimony ended on Tuesday afternoon, two days into the fourth week of the trial which provided a behind-the-scenes look at mountain politics in the region.

Various witnesses told about voters gathering in a church parking lot in rural Pike County to collect $10 bills after leaving the polls in the 2002 election. Others testified about illegal contributions to some candidates prior to the election, allegedly to buy votes.

Jurors will be left to decide what, if any, role Pikeville coal operator Ross Harris and one of his employees, Glen Turner of Drift, played in the election that year.

Defense attorneys contend the men did nothing illegal, and that the charges against them were brought by overzealous federal prosecutors and FBI agents.

However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor claims Harris was the kingpin in a scheme to buy votes from impoverished mountain residents, and that Turner assisted him by delivering the cash.

Taylor alleges Harris illegally funneled money into the re-election campaign of Knott County Judge-Executive Donnie Newsome and the unsuccessful judicial race of former state Sen. John Doug Hays.

Newsome, who is serving a 26-month sentence for election fraud, testified that he was given cash contributions totaling about $25,000 on three occasions by Harris and Turner. He could get a reduced sentence because of his testimony.

Prosecutors also allege that Harris funneled more than $40,000 to Hays to be used in a scheme disguised as a "get out the vote" effort. That involved paying people to haul voters to the polls.

Defense attorneys say the only financial contribution Harris made to the Hays campaign was a legal donation of $1,000.

The charges against Harris and Turner are the latest in a string of federal election fraud cases from the region. Hays and seven others are scheduled for trial in October.

University of Kentucky political scientist Phillip Roeder said the Hays campaign hired drivers in precincts where he had a strong political base.

Roeder was hired by defense attorneys to show that the Hays campaign had a legitimate purpose for distributing $50 checks to more than 600 people in his bid for Pike County district judge.

In Kentucky, paying drivers to take voters to the polls is both legal and commonplace.

Newsome told jurors he was given cash contributions on three occasions: One for $5,000 from Harris; two for $8,000 and $12,000 from a man he said he thought to be Turner.

Newsome said he got $60,000 in cash donations for his re-election campaign that year and an additional $14,000 in checks.

Newsome said he didn't use any of the money to buy votes.