Minnesota judge indicted for letting a dozen unregistered voters vote

The chief election judge in Badoura Township, Minnesota, faces two felony charges for allegedly allowing 11 unregistered people to vote in the presidential election 2024.

Timothy Michael Scouton, 64, completed training to become an election judge in July, according to the criminal complaint accessed by Fox 9. Training for the position, which is temporary and paid (or voluntary, if desired by the applicant), includes knowledge to "handle all aspects of voting at the polling place," according to official state documents.

However, after the election, an election auditor notified authorities of irregularities in the documents submitted by Scouton. Hubbard County Auditor Kay Rave discovered that 11 people who cast their preference at the polls had not completed voter registration application forms. When contacted, Scouton acknowledged that he and other election judges had not used the forms, according to NBC 5.

When asked by police, one election judge said that Scouton had assured them that it was unnecessary to complete the paperwork. Another said he had told them that new voters only needed to sign a book.

According to sources consulted by the agents, Scouton's son also worked as a judge and, being the first person the voters spoke to, he was responsible for recording their registration documents.

"Extremely serious"

Minnesota citizens can register to vote up to 20 days before the election or on election day itself. In the latter case, they need to bring with them a proof of residency.

The form includes eligibility questions: whether one is a U.S. citizen and whether one is over 18 on election day.

"These allegations are extremely serious and must be fully and thoroughly investigated," the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office maintained in a statement. "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."

He also commended Rave, the auditor, for taking "prompt and correct action in notifying local authorities of the uncovered discrepancies so they could investigate."

After being arrested by the Hubbard Sheriff's Office, Scouton made his first court appearance on Friday. His next hearing will be Jan. 6.