Nevis election judge pleads guilty to allowing unregistered voters to vote

PARK RAPIDS — A Nevis man entered a guilty plea Monday, March 23, after he was charged with two felonies related to the 2024 election.

Timothy Scouton, 65, was working as an election judge for Badoura Township during Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024.

Then-Hubbard County Auditor-Treasurer Kay Rave reported a few days later that 11 people voted in Badoura Township but did not complete voter registration forms, instead signing their names on the back of a book.

When asked, Scouton told Rave that they could not find the registration forms to use, according to the criminal complaint. After Rave located the forms, Scouton told Rave they did not use them.

Scouton was initially charged with accepting votes of unregistered voters and a neglect of duty after swearing an oath as an election judge, both felonies. Scouton’s attorney seeks a gross-misdemeanor level conviction for accepting the ballots from unregistered voters as part of the plea agreement.

Scouton’s son, Andrew Scouton, 33, was also working in an election capacity in Badoura Township that day and was charged with violating election law by working in the same precinct as a family member.

He received a stayed sentence after pleading guilty in September 2025 and also agreed not to serve as an election official.

The elder Scouton is expected to be sentenced on May 18.