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Sylvia Sims Bolton, the alderman who represents Waukegan’s Ward 1, has been charged after authorities allege she sent a mail-in ballot on behalf of her deceased mother during the 2026 Illinois primary election.
Bolton, 67, was charged with one count of tampering with election materials and one count of failure to obey the election code, according to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said the investigation began after election officials flagged an email ballot linked to a dead voter during post-election review.
According to officials, Mary Sims’ mail-in ballot was mailed on Feb. 5, first day ballots can be legally cast for the 2026 Primary Election.
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Waukegan alderperson Sylvia Sims Bolton has been charged after authorities allege she submitted a mail-in ballot on behalf of her deceased mother during the 2026 Illinois primary election. (City of Waukegan)
Election officials later considered revoking Mary Sims’ voter registration on Feb. 12 after receiving notification of his death through the Illinois State Board of Elections’ voter registration system, according to authorities.
Officials said the completed ballot envelope was returned in a secure box outside the Lake County Clerk’s Office on Feb. 26.
During a review conducted after the March 17 election, election workers determined that the ballot was returned after the voter’s date of death was recorded, authorities said.
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A ballot box sits outside the Contra Costa County elections office in Martinez, Calif., on May 27, 2026. June 2 is the last day to vote in person or return a ballot before the California state primary election. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)
“The security and verification procedures in place in our election system have worked as intended,” Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said in a statement. “Our staff followed established procedures, identified irregularities, and immediately contacted law enforcement to ensure that this matter was properly investigated. Protecting the integrity of our elections remains our top priority.”
Investigators suspect Bolton obtained the ballot after his mother had died, filled it out, signed his mother’s name and mailed it in an official drop box.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg said the case shows cooperation between multiple agencies.
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“Protecting the integrity of our elections is something the public expects from all of us in government,” Idleburg said in a statement. “This case is an example of the strong cooperation between the Lake County Clerk’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake County District Attorney’s Office to properly review allegations, pursue the facts, and ensure that our election laws are upheld fairly and impartially.”
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart also recommended an investigation.
“While Lake County’s internal systems and automated systems work well, any attempt at voter fraud undermines democracy and should be prosecuted,” Rinehart said in a statement.
Authorities said the ballot was flagged, sealed and separated from valid votes before it was counted.
Officials also said investigators found no evidence linking the allegations to Bolton’s role as an attacker, and he was not charged with official misconduct.
Bolton surrendered to authorities Wednesday morning and is expected to appear in court later in the day.
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Authorities said they were not aware of a previous investigation in Lake County that involved someone allegedly voting for a deceased person through a mail-in voting system.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Sylvia Sims Bolton, the City of Waukegan, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office and the Lake County Clerk’s Office for comment.
