Timothy Micheaal Scouton, an election judge in Hubbard County, Minnesota, is facing legal charges after allowing 11 unregistered voters to cast ballots during the 2024 election. Scouton, who served as the head election judge for Badoura Township Precinct, has been charged with one count of accepting an unregistered vote and one count of neglecting his duties as an election official.
The charges came after an election auditor discovered that the voters had not completed the necessary registration forms. Even though the voters failed to properly fill out these forms, Scouton allegedly allowed them to vote. The registration process is crucial for ensuring that voters are eligible and that the integrity of the election is maintained. By permitting the unregistered votes, Scouton violated the rules governing Minnesota’s elections.
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 alongside Scouton corroborated the claims, saying they were instructed by him to bypass the correct registration procedures. One judge told investigators that Scouton specifically told her not to use the required registration forms. Another judge revealed that Scouton directed her to have voters sign the back of a book as a substitute for the proper forms.
The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office issued a statement condemning Scouton’s actions, calling the charges against him “very serious.” The office emphasized that election judges must follow the law to uphold the fairness of the election process. “A deliberate failure to follow the law is unlawful and a betrayal of the public trust,” the statement said.
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
This case underscores the importance of maintaining strict standards when it comes to voter registration and election procedures. With the public’s trust in elections being critical, incidents like these highlight the need for constant vigilance and adherence to the rules by all election officials.
