Illinois GOP Chairman Bob Grogan has called for the resignation of Waukegan city official Sylvia Sims Bolton after she was charged with submitting her deceased mother's vote-by-mail ballot during the March primary election. Bolton turned herself in on Wednesday following the charges, which include a Class 4 felony.
The Lake County State's Attorney's Office reported that a vote-by-mail ballot for Mary Sims, Bolton's late mother, was issued in February. Shortly after, the voter registration was canceled upon notification of her death. The ballot was submitted at an official drop box and was flagged by the county's verification protocols, which initiated an investigation by the sheriff's office.
Grogan commented on the case, stating that it highlights vulnerabilities in mail-in voting. Election integrity advocate Jason Snead emphasized the need for secure mail ballots and clean voter rolls, suggesting that the incident raises questions about potential undetected voter fraud.
The investigation into Bolton began in March, and she faces charges for mutilating election material and disregarding election code. If convicted, she could face up to three years in prison for the felony charge. The State's Attorney's office confirmed that there were no links between the allegations and her official duties, and no previous cases of deceased individuals voting were reported.
State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart remarked on the importance of maintaining a well-funded Clerk’s office with advanced technology to prevent such incidents.