Illinois official charged after allegedly submitting dead mother’s mail-in ballot

Sylvia Sims Bolton, an alderperson representing Waukegan’s 1st Ward, has been charged after authorities alleged she submitted a mail-in ballot in her deceased mother’s name during Illinois’ 2026 primary election. Bolton, 67, was charged with one felony count of mutilation of election material and one misdemeanor count of disregarding election code, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office . Authorities said the investigation began after election officials flagged a vote-by-mail bal