UMVA has learned that Waukegan Ald. Sylvia Sims Bolton, 67, was arrested for casting a ballot in her deceased mother’s name.
Bolton filled out a mail‑in ballot for Mary Sims, who died on January 12, after the clerk’s office had issued the ballot on February 5.
The ballot was returned on February 26, a month before the March primary, sparking an investigation that began only after the clerk’s office noticed the irregularity.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Bolton faces a felony charge of mutilating election material and a misdemeanor for violating election codes.
County officials say their system of checks and balances worked, but the delay in investigation highlights a rare loophole that Bolton exploited.
She appeared in Lake County Court on May 19, where evidence of the forged ballot was presented to the judge.
The clerk’s office had already cancelled Mary Sims’ voter registration upon learning of her death from state records.
UMVA has uncovered that the sheriff’s investigation only began on March 27, ten days after the primary, after the clerk’s office flagged the suspicious return.
Despite the procedural delay, the case underscores that anyone who attempts to game the system will be held accountable.
With Bolton’s arrest, the community watches closely as the legal process unfolds, a reminder that the integrity of every vote is fiercely protected.
