An election judge in Minnesota has been charged with two felonies for allegedly allowing 11 unregistered voters to cast ballots in the 2024 election. Timothy Michael Scouton, who served as the head election judge at the Badoura Township Precinct in Hubbard County, is accused of instructing voters not to complete the necessary voter registration forms, but rather to sign “the back of a book” in order to vote. This action, if true, represents a significant violation of election laws and has sparked an investigation into his conduct during the election.
In Minnesota, the law allows voters to register on Election Day, a practice known as same-day voter registration. This system permits individuals who are not registered to vote to do so at the polling place by filling out a registration form. However, in this case, Scouton allegedly bypassed the registration process altogether for certain voters. Instead of ensuring they filled out the required registration paperwork, he allegedly instructed them to sign a book, which did not meet the legal requirements for voter registration. This failure to properly register the voters has led to felony charges against Scouton.
The issue was discovered when Hubbard County Auditor Kay Rave began looking for the completed voter registration forms after the election. These forms are crucial to verifying the identities of voters and ensuring the legitimacy of their ballots. When Rave asked Scouton about the forms, he reportedly could not find them. Scouton then allegedly told Rave that they had not used the registration forms at all. Rave’s inquiry raised further suspicions, leading her to investigate the situation further.
Upon discovering the missing forms, Rave contacted local authorities, including the Hubbard County Attorney, who had unfortunately passed away shortly before the investigation began. The matter was then referred to the sheriff’s office, and a criminal investigation was launched. According to the investigation, Scouton had allowed 11 individuals to vote without completing the necessary registration process. These voters did not fill out the Minnesota Voter Registration Application, which is required by law to verify their eligibility to vote.
In addition to Scouton’s actions, the investigation revealed that Scouton’s son, Andrew Scouton, was also serving as an election judge on Election Day. Andrew was reportedly in charge of handling voter registration and interacting with voters as they arrived at the polling place. It appears that Andrew was aware of the failure to follow proper registration procedures and may have been complicit in the decision to bypass the required forms.
An additional witness, another election judge who worked with Scouton on Election Day, confirmed that Scouton had instructed her not to use the proper voter registration form. This testimony further corroborated the allegations against Scouton, indicating that his actions were deliberate and in violation of state election laws.
As a result of these allegations, Timothy Scouton has been charged with two felony counts: one for accepting the votes of unregistered voters and another for neglecting his duty as an election official. These charges carry severe penalties, including a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a potential fine of up to $10,000. Scouton was arrested and taken into custody, though he has not yet made any public statements regarding the charges.
The case highlights the critical role that election judges play in ensuring the integrity of the voting process. Election judges are tasked with overseeing the election process, verifying voter eligibility, and ensuring that the law is followed during the casting of ballots. Their responsibility to uphold election laws is fundamental to maintaining public trust in the electoral system. Any deviation from these responsibilities, especially deliberate actions that compromise the fairness of the election, must be taken seriously.
In this case, the Hubbard County Auditor’s quick action in reporting the discrepancies to authorities was crucial in uncovering the potential election violations. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to review the details of the case to determine the full extent of the misconduct.
This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in elections. With so many people relying on the election system to fairly and accurately reflect the will of the people, it is essential that those entrusted with administering elections follow the law to the letter. Any failure to do so risks undermining public confidence in the system and may have significant legal consequences for those involved.
