A suburban Chicago elected official is facing felony and misdemeanor charges after investigators say she tried to cast a vote using her deceased mother’s name during Illinois’ 2026 primary election.
Sylvia Sims Bolton, a 67-year-old alderperson who represents Waukegan’s 1st Ward, was charged with one felony count of mutilation of election material and one misdemeanor count of disregarding election code, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said the case began during a routine post-election review, when election officials flagged a vote-by-mail ballot tied to a voter who had already died.
According to prosecutors, a vote-by-mail ballot for Mary Sims was mailed Feb. 5, the first day ballots could legally be sent for the 2026 General Primary Election.
Election officials later processed the cancellation of Mary Sims’ voter registration on Feb. 12 after receiving notification of her death through the Illinois State Board of Elections voter registration system, authorities said.
Investigators allege the completed ballot envelope was returned through a secure drop box outside the Lake County Clerk’s Office on Feb. 26.
During a review after the March 17 primary election, election staff determined the ballot had been returned after the voter’s recorded date of death, authorities said.
Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said the system worked as intended.
“The safeguards and verification procedures in place within our election system worked exactly as intended,” Vega said in a statement. “Our staff followed established protocols, identified the irregularity, and immediately coordinated with law enforcement to ensure this matter is thoroughly investigated. Protecting the integrity of our elections remains our highest priority.”
Investigators alleged Bolton received the ballot after her mother had already died, filled it out, signed her mother’s name and submitted it through an official ballot drop box.
Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said multiple agencies worked the case together.
“Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is something the public rightfully expects from all of us in government,” Idleburg said in a statement. “This case is an example of the strong collaboration between the Lake County Clerk’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to thoroughly review allegations, follow the facts, and ensure our election laws are upheld fairly and impartially.”
An Illinois Democrat politician cast a ballot in her dead mother’s name.
This is exactly why Democrat-run states refuse to hand over voter roll data to the DOJ.
Blue state voter rolls are riddled with fraud, dead voters, and illegal immigrants! pic.twitter.com/cIrJUOrcdq
— Christian Collins (@CollinsforTX) May 28, 2026
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said the allegations warranted prosecution even with internal checks in place.
“While Lake County’s internal protocols and automated systems are effective, any attempt at voter fraud undermines democracy and must be prosecuted,” Rinehart said in a statement.
Authorities said the ballot was flagged, voided and separated from valid ballots before it could be counted.
Officials also said they did not uncover evidence tying the allegations to Bolton’s duties as an alderperson, and she was not charged with official misconduct.
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Bolton surrendered to authorities Wednesday morning and was expected to appear in court later in the day.
Authorities said they were unaware of any prior Lake County investigations involving someone allegedly voting on behalf of a deceased person through the vote-by-mail system.
Fox News Digital said it reached out to Bolton, the City of Waukegan, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Lake County Clerk’s Office for comment.
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