Overview
- Bolton surrendered to authorities Wednesday and was charged with one felony count of mutilation of election material and one misdemeanor count of disregarding the election code.
- Election staff flagged the ballot during a post‑primary review after finding it had been returned following the recorded date of the voter’s death, and officials voided and separated the envelope so it was not counted.
- Records show a ballot for Mary Sims was mailed on Feb. 5, her voter registration was canceled on Feb. 12 after state death records were received, and a completed envelope was dropped off on Feb. 26.
- Investigators allege Bolton received her deceased mother’s vote‑by‑mail ballot, signed Mary Sims’ name and submitted it through a secure drop box, and prosecutors say the county agencies cooperated on the probe.
- Officials reported no evidence tying the alleged conduct to Bolton’s city duties and said they were unaware of prior Lake County cases involving someone casting a mail‑in ballot for a deceased person, with the case now pending prosecution.