Timothy Micheaal Scouton, the head election judge for Badoura Township Precinct in Hubbard County, Minnesota, has been arrested and charged after allegedly allowing unregistered voters to cast their ballots during the 2024 election. Scouton faces two charges: one for accepting votes from unregistered individuals and another for neglecting his duties as an election official.
The charges came after an election auditor flagged 11 votes that were cast without the necessary registration forms. Despite the omission of these crucial documents, Scouton allegedly allowed the voters to participate in the election, violating state law that requires all voters to complete the proper registration process.
BREAKING: An ELECTION JUDGE in Hubbard County, Minnesota, has been ARRESTED and charged with two felony counts for allowing 11 UNREGISTERED people to vote in the 2024 election.
His name is Timothy Scouton, and he's now facing up to ten years in prison and up to $20,000 in… pic.twitter.com/xGh2CvKjuk
— Candace (@roycan79) November 16, 2024
Other judges who worked with Scouton reported that he had instructed them to bypass the correct procedures. One judge claimed that Scouton told her not to use the required registration forms, while another judge was directed to have voters sign a book rather than completing the proper registration forms.
The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has expressed concern about the charges, stating that any deliberate failure to follow election laws undermines the public trust. “Election judges are entrusted with the responsibility to administer elections fairly and impartially, and a failure to do so is unlawful,” the office stated.
ELECTION INTEGRITY: Another election judge has been arrested after authorities in Minnesota learned he was allowing people who were NOT registered to vote in the 2024 election. MN allows same-day registration with ID but the judge just had people sign his book instead. pic.twitter.com/BHcnWaaN7O
— @amuse (@amuse) November 18, 2024
Minnesota election judge charged with 2 felonies for allegedly letting 11 unregistered people vote https://t.co/nlw4hUfXOp
— The Minnesota Star Tribune (@StarTribune) November 16, 2024
The Hubbard County Auditor acted quickly in notifying authorities of the discrepancies, leading to the arrest and ongoing investigation. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of election officials adhering to procedures and maintaining the integrity of the election process. The outcome of the investigation could have serious implications for election oversight in Minnesota.
