Minnesota Election Judge Charged For Allowing Unregistered Votes In Hubbard County

Timothy Micheaal Scouton, the head election judge for Badoura Township Precinct in Hubbard County, Minnesota, has been charged after allegedly allowing unregistered voters to cast their ballots during the 2024 election. Scouton faces two charges: one for accepting the vote of an unregistered voter and another for neglect of duty as an election official.

According to police reports, an election auditor discovered that 11 voters had not filled out the required registration forms. Despite this, Scouton allegedly permitted them to vote, a violation of Minnesota’s election laws. The registration forms are essential for verifying voter eligibility, and allowing unregistered voters to participate in the election undermines the integrity of the process.

Scouton completed his training as an election judge and head election judge in July, which raises concerns about how these violations occurred despite his preparation. Authorities learned that another judge who worked with Scouton was instructed not to use the correct registration forms. In a separate instance, a different judge said that Scouton directed her to have voters sign the back of a book because she was unsure of the proper forms to use.

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office called the charges “very serious,” emphasizing the importance of election judges upholding their duties to ensure fair elections. “Election judges take an oath to administer elections in accordance with the law, and a failure to do so is unlawful and a betrayal of the public trust,” the office stated.

Thanks to the Hubbard County Auditor’s quick action in notifying local authorities, the case is now under investigation. This incident highlights the importance of proper election procedures and the need for election officials to adhere strictly to the law to maintain public trust in the electoral process.

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