Illinois Alderman Accused of Voter Fraud Sparks Concerns

Illinois GOP Chairman Bob Grogan is demanding the resignation of a Waukegan city official after she reportedly submitted a vote-by-mail ballot for her deceased mother. This incident raises questions about the mail-in voting process and the integrity of voter rolls.

Charges Against Sylvia Sims Bolton

Sylvia Sims Bolton, a Waukegan alderman, turned herself in facing two charges, including a Class 4 felony. Prosecutors allege she submitted her late mother’s ballot during a March primary election.

According to the Lake County State’s Attorney, Mary Sims’ vote-by-mail ballot was sent in February. However, her voter registration was promptly canceled following her death, as reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Security Measures Flag the Ballot

The ballot, deposited at an official drop box, underwent security checks. These checks revealed the voter’s death record had been processed before the ballot’s submission. This led to an investigation by the sheriff’s office and charges against Bolton.

Comments from Election Integrity Advocates

“Dead person voting is the easiest voter fraud to detect, but more complex fraud is harder,” Grogan told Fox News Digital.

Jason Snead from the Honest Elections Project emphasized that mail-in ballots need stringent security and verification to prevent fraud. He highlighted the necessity of maintaining accurate voter rolls to avoid similar incidents.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s office issues a press release stating that automated systems review all ballot envelopes for any irregularities, including canceled voter registrations and other errors.

Consequences of the Charges

Grogan’s office confirmed that Bolton faces charges for election material falsification and disregarding election code. A felony conviction could result in up to three years in prison, along with a five-year ban from public employment.

The State’s Attorney’s office assured that the investigation found no connections to Bolton’s city duties. Authorities also noted no previous cases of vote-by-mail fraud involving deceased individuals.

State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart highlighted the importance of well-funded election offices with state-of-the-art technology to detect and prevent voter fraud.