Illinois official charged after allegedly submitting dead mother’s mail-in ballot

Sylvia Sims Bolton, an alderperson representing Waukegan’s 1st Ward, has been charged aft authorities alleged she submitted a mail-in ballot successful her deceased mother’s sanction during Illinois’ 2026 superior election.

Bolton, 67, was charged with 1 felony number of mutilation of predetermination worldly and 1 misdemeanor number of disregarding predetermination code, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Authorities said the probe began aft predetermination officials flagged a vote-by-mail ballot connected to a deceased elector during a post-election reappraisal process.

According to officials, a vote-by-mail ballot for Mary Sims was mailed Feb. 5, the archetypal time ballots could legally beryllium sent for the 2026 General Primary Election.

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Waukegan alderperson Sylvia Sims Bolton was charged aft authorities alleged she submitted a vote-by-mail ballot successful her deceased mother’s sanction during Illinois’ 2026 superior election. (City of Waukegan)

Election officials aboriginal processed the cancellation of Mary Sims’ elector registration connected Feb. 12 aft receiving notification of her decease done the Illinois State Board of Elections elector registration system, according to authorities.

Officials said the completed ballot envelope was returned done a unafraid driblet container extracurricular the Lake County Clerk’s Office connected Feb. 26.

During a reappraisal conducted aft the March 17 superior election, predetermination unit determined the ballot had been returned aft the voter’s recorded day of death, authorities said.

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A ballot container sits extracurricular Contra Costa County's elections bureau successful Martinez, Calif., connected May 27, 2026. June 2 is the past time to ballot successful idiosyncratic oregon instrumentality a ballot earlier California's statewide superior election. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)

"The safeguards and verification procedures successful spot wrong our predetermination strategy worked precisely arsenic intended," Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said successful a statement. "Our unit followed established protocols, identified the irregularity, and instantly coordinated with instrumentality enforcement to guarantee this substance is thoroughly investigated. Protecting the integrity of our elections remains our highest priority."

Investigators alleged Bolton received the ballot aft her parent had already died, filled it out, signed her mother’s sanction and submitted it done an authoritative ballot driblet box.

Sheriff John D. Idleburg said the lawsuit demonstrated practice betwixt aggregate agencies.

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A pistillate wearing gloves drops disconnected a mail-in ballot astatine a driblet container successful Hackensack, N.J., connected July 7, 2020. A justice successful Atlantic City, N.J., volition perceive arguments connected June 7, 2024, astir whether to number astir 1,900 message ballots formed successful 1 New Jersey region aft predetermination workers mishandled them and the section elections committee deadlocked. The lawsuit could impact the Democratic superior for the state's 2nd Congressional District. (Seth Wenig/AP)

"Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is thing the nationalist rightfully expects from each of america successful government," Idleburg said successful a statement. "This lawsuit is an illustration of the beardown collaboration betwixt the Lake County Clerk’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to thoroughly reappraisal allegations, travel the facts, and guarantee our predetermination laws are upheld reasonably and impartially."

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart besides praised the investigation.

"While Lake County’s interior protocols and automated systems are effective, immoderate effort astatine elector fraud undermines ideology and indispensable beryllium prosecuted," Rinehart said successful a statement.

Authorities said the ballot was flagged, voided and separated from valid ballots earlier it could beryllium counted.

Officials besides said investigators did not uncover grounds linking the allegations to Bolton’s duties arsenic an alderperson, and she was not charged with authoritative misconduct.

Bolton surrendered to authorities Wednesday greeting and was expected to look successful tribunal aboriginal successful the day.

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Authorities said they were unaware of immoderate anterior Lake County investigations involving idiosyncratic allegedly voting connected behalf of a deceased idiosyncratic done the vote-by-mail system.

Fox News Digital reached retired to Sylvia Sims Bolton, the City of Waukegan, the Lake County State’s Attorney Office and the Lake County Clerk's Office for comment.