Dead Mother's Ballot Puts Waukegan Alderman Sylvia Sims Bolton in Criminal Court

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A Waukegan alderman is facing a felony charge after prosecutors alleged she used her deceased mother's vote-by-mail materials during Illinois' primary earlier this year.

Sylvia Sims Bolton, 67, is charged with one count of mutilation of election material and a misdemeanor offense after investigators concluded she submitted paperwork intended for her mother, Mary Sims, as reported by the Daily Herald.

Records show voting documents for Mary Sims were issued on Feb. 5. Her registration was canceled a week later after state agencies received notice of her death through Illinois' voter database.

County workers said completed materials were placed in a secure drop box outside the Lake County Clerk's Office on Feb. 26. Staff reviewing submissions identified the problem before any tally was recorded.

The criminal complaint alleges Bolton received the documents, completed them and signed her mother's name before turning them in. It also states the allegations were unrelated to her duties as an elected official.

Mary Sims had been a longtime resident of the Waukegan area. Public records reviewed during the inquiry showed her death had already been reported through the state's registration system before the materials were returned.

Suspicion arose when workers discovered Mary Sims' death had already been recorded before the submission arrived. That discovery triggered a criminal inquiry by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Bolton surrendered and later appeared before a judge. She was released pending trial under Illinois' pretrial release rules.

Election board employees separated the questioned materials from the normal processing stream while reviewing records connected to the primary. No vote linked to Mary Sims was included in certified totals.

Administrators said safeguards prevented the submission from becoming part of the certified results. Officials pointed to the discovery as evidence that verification measures functioned as intended.

Conviction on the felony charge could carry prison time under Illinois law. Proceedings are scheduled to continue in Lake County.