Illinois Lawmaker Faces Felony Charge for Alleged Voter Fraud

A lawmaker in Illinois is facing a felony charge after being accused of voting in place of her deceased mother. Alderperson Sylvia Sims Bolton, who represents Waukegan’s 1st Ward, addressed the charge in Lake County Court. She is alleged to have violated election laws by tampering with election materials, which includes a felony offense and a misdemeanor for ignoring election codes.

The situation came to light when Lake County officials conducted a post-election review. They flagged a vote-by-mail ballot linked to a deceased voter. Mary Sims, Bolton’s mother, passed away on January 12. Despite this, a ballot was requested on her behalf and mailed by the county clerk on February 5. Her voter registration was canceled later that month after her death was confirmed.

According to Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega, the completed ballot was returned on February 26. An investigation showed that Bolton filled out the ballot and signed it using her mother’s name, fully aware that it was unlawful.

“Bolton submitted the ballot to an official Clerk’s Office drop box,” explained Vega. “The election’s verification procedures identified the discrepancy promptly. Our protocols ensured the issue was investigated correctly, underscoring our commitment to election integrity.”

The investigation uncovered no evidence indicating that Bolton’s actions were related to her official capacities. If convicted, she risks probation or a prison term of up to three years for the felony, and up to one year for the misdemeanor. Attempts to contact her were unavailing. She was released on the condition of returning to court on July 2, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

David Motley, Waukegan’s public relations director, chose not to comment on the case, according to the report. Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart praised the clerk’s office for their handling of the situation. “The clerk’s office employed national best practices to uncover and report this crime,” Rinehart told Fox News. “Breaking voting laws will lead to detection and prosecution.”

Authorities confirmed that this investigation is a rare instance regarding fraudulent votes cast for deceased individuals via mail-in ballots. Research from the Brennan Center for Justice supports voter fraud as being an uncommon occurrence, often resulting from errors by voters or officials.