Two felony counts have been brought against a man who served as a chief election judge in a township in Minnesota. 

The allegations against him include allowing eleven individuals to vote despite the fact that they were not registered to do so, as The Washington Examiner reported.

Officials began looking into the situation on Friday following concerns that the recent election could have been marred by invalid ballots being cast in the election.

after Hubbard County Auditor Kay Rave was unable to find any completed voter registration forms among the ballots and other materials that Timothy Michael Scouton, 64, of Nevis, returned.

The Defendant

Scouton had been serving as the head election judge in the Badoura Township precinct, a position that allows him some oversight on the election process.

According to the complaint, another election judge told an investigator from the county sheriff's office that Scouton instructed them not to use the registration forms.

Another election judge stated that Scouton told them that new voters simply needed to sign the back of a book.

Following that, the investigator allegedly visited with Scouton at the sheriff's office, according to the complaint.

Suit Details

It was said in the lawsuit that he was informed of his rights but chose not to submit a statement, and he was then placed under arrest thereafter. There was no indication of a possible motivation in the allegation.

After making his first court appearance on Friday, Scouton was released till his next hearing, which is scheduled for January 6.

A call that was sent to him on Saturday to inquire about his comments was not immediately returned, and his attorney declined to comment on the matter.

From Officials

The office of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has referred to the charges as "extremely serious," and he has stated that they demand a thorough investigation.

“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 office said in a statement.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail and/or a fine of ten thousand dollars.

Approximately 160 miles (257 kilometers) to the northwest of Minneapolis is where you'll find Badoura Township. It is located immediately east of Park Rapids.