An election judge in Minnesota is facing charges after allegedly allowing individuals who were not properly registered to vote in the 2024 election. Timothy Michael Scouton, who served as the head election judge for the Badoura Township Precinct in Hubbard County, Minnesota, is being charged with one count of accepting the vote of an unregistered voter and one count of neglect of duty by an election official, both felonies.
According to sources, police were alerted by an election auditor that 11 voters were permitted to vote without completing proper registration forms to authenticate their identity. This incident occurred despite Scouton having completed his election judge training and head election judge training in July.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Scouton instructed other judges not to use the correct registration forms. One judge stated that she was unaware of the proper forms and was directed by Scouton to have voters sign the back of a book instead.
Scouton was subsequently arrested by the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office and declined to provide a statement regarding the charges. The Minnesota Secretary of State has acknowledged the severity of the allegations, emphasizing the importance of conducting elections in accordance with the law.
In response to the incident, the Secretary of State’s office issued a statement, calling for a thorough investigation into the matter. They highlighted that election judges are entrusted with upholding the integrity of the electoral process and must adhere to legal requirements to maintain public trust.
The Hubbard County Auditor promptly reported the discrepancies to local authorities, enabling them to launch an investigation into the matter. The incident underscores the critical role of election officials in ensuring fair and lawful elections in Minnesota.
