A Minnesota election judge faces felony charges for allegedly allowing unregistered voters to cast ballots during the 2024 election.

Timothy Michael Scouton, the head election judge for the Badoura Township Precinct in Hubbard County, has been charged with accepting the vote of an unregistered voter and neglect of duty by an election official, according to a report by Fox 9 Minneapolis.

Both charges are felonies, highlighting the serious nature of the allegations.

Scouton, who underwent basic election judge training and completed head election judge training in July, is accused of failing to follow proper voter registration protocols.

According to a criminal complaint, concerns arose after an election auditor reported discrepancies involving 11 voters who had not completed the required registration forms.

On November 7, the auditor contacted Scouton to inquire about the missing forms. Scouton allegedly told her that he could not locate them.

When the auditor eventually found the forms, Scouton reportedly admitted that he and other election judges did not use them on election day.

Further investigation revealed that Scouton instructed another election judge not to use the Minnesota Voter Registration Application form, which is required to verify voter identities.

The criminal complaint also states that Scouton’s son, who worked alongside him as an election judge, was responsible for greeting voters and would have been in charge of ensuring proper registration.

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

Another election judge told investigators that he was unaware of the need for registration forms and claimed Scouton had only directed new voters to sign the back of a book.

Scouton was arrested at the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, where he declined to provide a statement.

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office called the allegations “extremely serious” and emphasized the importance of election judges adhering to the law.

“Election judges take an oath to administer elections in accordance with the law, a deliberate failure to do so is unlawful and a betrayal of the public trust,” the Secretary of State’s Office said in a statement.

“Minnesota’s elections rely on the dedication and public service of 30,000 people, and they are required to conduct their work fairly, impartially, and within the letter of the law.”

The office praised the Hubbard County Auditor for acting swiftly to address the discrepancies, ensuring a prompt investigation by local authorities.

This case underscores the importance of proper election procedures and the role of election judges in maintaining public trust.

As election integrity remains a focal point in political discourse, incidents like this highlight the potential consequences of neglecting established protocols.

Scouton’s arrest marks a rare instance of an election official facing criminal charges for alleged misconduct, and the outcome of this case could set a precedent for how similar allegations are handled in the future.

The investigation is ongoing, with officials working to determine the full extent of the alleged violations.

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