Democrat Faces Felony Charge, Accused of Casting Dead Mother's Vote

A city lawmaker in Illinois faces a felony charge, accused of casting a ballot on behalf of her late mother.

Alderperson Sylvia Sims Bolton, a Democrat who represents Waukegan’s 1st Ward, appeared in Lake County Court on Wednesday after being charged with mutilation of election material, a felony, and disregarding election code, a misdemeanor.

Lake County officials said an investigation into Bolton, 67, began in March after the clerk’s office identified and flagged a vote-by-mail ballot that had been associated with a deceased voter during its post-election review process.

A ballot for Bolton’s mother, Mary Sims, who died on January 12, was issued and mailed by the Lake County Clerk’s Office on February 5. County officials later canceled her voter registration in February after being notified of her death.

But the completed ballot was later returned to the Lake County Clerk’s Office on February 26, according to a statement by Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega.

A subsequent investigation revealed Bolton filled out her mother’s ballot and signed Sims’ name, “knowing it was not possible for her to vote in the election,” Vega said.

“Bolton then submitted the ballot to an official Clerk's Office ballot drop box,” he added.

“The safeguards and verification procedures in place within our election system worked exactly as intended,” Vega said. “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.”

The investigation did not reveal any evidence linking the allegations to Bolton’s official duties, Vega also said.

Bolton, who was charged on May 19, could face probation or up to three years in prison if convicted on the felony count or one year in jail for a misdemeanor conviction. Attempts to reach her late Friday were unsuccessful. She was released on her own recognizance Wednesday and is due back in court on July 2, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Waukegan’s public relations director, David Motley, declined to comment on the ongoing case, the newspaper reported.

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said the investigation shows the benefit of a “well-funded, independent” clerk’s office that utilizes the latest technology.

“Clerk Vega and his team followed national best practices in order to detect and report this crime,” Rinehart told Fox News. “We must say loudly to people that if you improperly vote for others, you will be caught, investigated, and prosecuted.”

Lake County authorities said they were unaware of any previous investigations related to citizens using the vote-by-mail system to cast ballots for deceased individuals. Research by the Brennan Center for Justice also shows that voter fraud is extremely rare, with many alleged instances stemming from voter or administrative error.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 6:05 PM.