Illinois GOP Chairman Bob Grogan is urging the resignation of a Democratic official from Waukegan after prosecutors alleged she submitted a vote-by-mail ballot for her deceased mother. This incident has sparked concerns among conservatives about mail-in voting integrity, despite the fraudulent ballot being intercepted before counting.
Sylvia Sims Bolton, a Waukegan alderman, turned herself in following charges related to submitting her late mother’s vote-by-mail ballot in a March primary election. She faces two charges, one being a Class 4 Felony.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reports that Mary Sims, Bolton’s mother, received a mail-in ballot in February. Shortly thereafter, her voter registration was canceled after notification of her death via the Illinois Department of Public Health and the state’s Board of Elections. Although Bolton submitted the ballot at a drop box, security protocols flagged it due to Mary Sims’ death record processing before the ballot’s submission. This led to a sheriff’s investigation and subsequent charges.
A picture of the Illinois state flag appears beside Sylvia Sims Bolton’s mugshot. (Getty Images/Lake County State’s Attorney Office)
Bob Grogan commented, “A dead person voting, when you’re aware they’re dead, is the easiest fraud to spot. It’s like someone grabbing cash from a register. But more complex, behind-the-scenes fraud is harder to detect.”
Jason Snead of the Honest Elections Project emphasized that the Bolton case demonstrates voter fraud occurs. He noted, “Mail ballots are vulnerable, so they need securing. They should never be mailed without a request and always verified before counting.” Had the electoral roll process been slower, he argued, the fraudulent vote may have been counted.
The Lake County State’s Attorney Office noted in a release that all ballot envelopes undergo automated checks to identify irregularities, such as barcode issues or discrepancies with voter registration statuses, that might require more scrutiny.
Poll workers process ballots at an elections warehouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 8, 2022. (Ed Jones AFP via Getty Images)
The investigation, involving Bolton, who represents Ward 1 in Waukegan, began in March. She has since been charged with Mutilation of Election Material, a Class 4 felony, and Disregarding Election Code, a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted of the felony, Bolton faces one to three years in prison or possibly probation. The misdemeanor may result in less than a year in jail and fines. The felony also bans public employment for five years following the sentence.
The State’s Attorney’s Office stated that the investigation found no evidence linking the allegations to Bolton’s city duties, and she is not charged with misconduct. There are no known prior investigations related to using the vote-by-mail system for deceased individuals.
State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart praised the Clerk’s office for its diligence, stating, “Clerk Vega and his team applied best practices to detect and report this crime. This case highlights the need for a well-funded, independent Clerk’s office with advanced technology.”