Minnesota Election Judge Charged After Accepting Unregistered Votes

A Minnesota election judge has been charged with two offenses after allegedly accepting unregistered votes in Hubbard County during the 2024 election. Timothy Micheaal Scouton, who served as the head election judge for Badoura Township Precinct, is facing one count of accepting the vote of an unregistered voter and one count of neglect of duty as an election official.

The charges stem from an incident where 11 voters were allowed to cast their ballots without completing the required voter registration forms. According to police, an election auditor discovered the discrepancy and alerted authorities. Despite being informed that the voters had not completed the necessary registration paperwork, Scouton allegedly permitted them to vote. The registration forms are crucial for verifying voter identities and ensuring the legitimacy of ballots.

Scouton reportedly completed his election judge and head election judge training in July, raising questions about how the alleged violations occurred despite his training. Another judge, who worked alongside Scouton, confirmed to authorities that Scouton instructed her not to use the correct registration forms. In another instance, a different election judge stated that Scouton directed her to have voters sign the back of a book, as she was unaware of the correct registration forms.

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has called the charges against Scouton “very serious” and emphasized the importance of election officials adhering to the law. “These allegations are extremely serious and must be fully and thoroughly investigated,” the Secretary of State’s office stated. “Election judges take an oath to administer elections in accordance with the law, and a deliberate failure to do so is unlawful and a betrayal of the public trust.”

Authorities have praised the Hubbard County Auditor for quickly notifying local law enforcement, which allowed for a swift investigation into the matter. With the integrity of elections at stake, the case underscores the importance of election officials following proper procedures to maintain public confidence in the electoral process.