Illinois Republican Party Chairman Bob Grogan has urged a city official from Waukegan to resign after a legal case emerged. This involves a Democratic alderman, Sylvia Sims Bolton, who allegedly submitted a mail-in ballot in her deceased mother’s name.
Details of the Allegation
Prosecutors report that Bolton turned in her late mother’s ballot during a primary election in March. This action led to two charges, including a Class 4 felony. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office outlined how the incident unfolded.
Mary Sims, Bolton’s mother, received a vote-by-mail ballot in February. Shortly after, her voter registration was canceled following a notification of her death. The ballot was placed in an official drop box and flagged during verification for irregularities. This initiated an investigation and resultant charges.
“A dead person voting, that you’re actually aware that they’re dead, is the easiest voter fraud to find,” Bob Grogan said. “It’s like somebody leaning over the cash register and grabbing the cash out of the till.”
Broader Concerns about Mail-In Voting
Jason Snead, from the Honest Elections Project, highlighted concerns about mail ballot vulnerabilities. He emphasized the need for security and verification measures to maintain clean voter rolls.
According to Snead, more time in list maintenance might have led to the illegal vote being counted, hinting at safeguards that many states oppose. These situations raise questions about other potential cases of similar voter fraud.
Investigation and Charges
The investigation started in March when Bolton represented Waukegan’s Ward 1. She is charged with Mutilation of Election Material and Disregarding Election Code. The felony could lead to up to three years in prison, probation, or discharge. A misdemeanor could result in less than one year in jail and a fine.
The investigation revealed no links between these allegations and Bolton’s official duties. Officials were unaware of past attempts to exploit the vote-by-mail system this way.
State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart commended Clerk Vega and his team for following national best practices and detecting this crime, highlighting the importance of technology in election security.