Sylvia Sims Bolton, an alderperson from Waukegan’s 1st Ward, is facing charges following allegations that she submitted a mail-in ballot on behalf of her deceased mother during Illinois’ 2026 primary election.

The 67-year-old Bolton has been charged with a felony count of mutilation of election material and a misdemeanor count for disregarding election code, as announced by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The investigation reportedly commenced when election officials identified an irregularity with a vote-by-mail ballot linked to a deceased individual during their routine post-election review.

Authorities stated that a mail-in ballot for Mary Sims had been sent out on February 5, the earliest date allowed for mailing ballots for the 2026 General Primary Election.

FORMER DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL CANDIDATE ADMITS TO FORGING VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS

Waukegan alderperson Sylvia Sims Bolton was charged after authorities alleged she submitted a vote-by-mail ballot in her deceased mother’s name during Illinois’ 2026 primary election. (City of Waukegan)

Election officials later processed the cancellation of Mary Sims’ voter registration on Feb. 12 after receiving notification of her death through the Illinois State Board of Elections voter registration system, according to authorities.

Officials said the completed ballot envelope was returned through a secure drop box outside the Lake County Clerk’s Office on Feb. 26.

During a review conducted after the March 17 primary election, election staff determined the ballot had been returned after the voter’s recorded date of death, authorities said.

34,000 DEAD PEOPLE FOUND ON VOTER ROLLS PROMPTS EXPERT TO SLAM DEMS FOR RESISTING ‘COMMONSENSE’ CLEANUP

A ballot box sits outside Contra Costa County’s elections office in Martinez, Calif., on May 27, 2026. June 2 is the last day to vote in person or return a ballot before California’s statewide primary election. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)

“The safeguards and verification procedures in place within our election system worked exactly as intended,” Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said in a statement. “Our staff followed established protocols, identified the irregularity, and immediately coordinated with law enforcement to ensure this matter is thoroughly investigated. Protecting the integrity of our elections remains our highest priority.”

Investigators alleged Bolton received the ballot after her mother had already died, filled it out, signed her mother’s name and submitted it through an official ballot drop box.

Sheriff John D. Idleburg said the case demonstrated cooperation between multiple agencies.

DISCOVERY OF ‘FRAUDULENT’ VOTER APPLICATIONS PROMPTS PA PROBE OF ARIZONA COMPANY’S POTENTIAL INVOLVEMENT

A woman wearing gloves drops off a mail-in ballot at a drop box in Hackensack, N.J., on July 7, 2020. A judge in Atlantic City, N.J., will hear arguments on June 7, 2024, about whether to count about 1,900 mail ballots cast in one New Jersey county after election workers mishandled them and the local elections board deadlocked. The case could affect the Democratic primary for the state’s 2nd Congressional District. (Seth Wenig/AP)

“Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is something the public rightfully expects from all of us in government,” Idleburg said in a statement. “This case is an example of the strong collaboration between the Lake County Clerk’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to thoroughly review allegations, follow the facts, and ensure our election laws are upheld fairly and impartially.”

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart also praised the investigation.

“While Lake County’s internal protocols and automated systems are effective, any attempt at voter fraud undermines democracy and must be prosecuted,” Rinehart said in a statement.

Authorities said the ballot was flagged, voided and separated from valid ballots before it could be counted.

Officials also said investigators did not uncover evidence linking the allegations to Bolton’s duties as an alderperson, and she was not charged with official misconduct.

Bolton surrendered to authorities Wednesday morning and was expected to appear in court later in the day.

Authorities said they were unaware of any prior Lake County investigations involving someone allegedly voting on behalf of a deceased person through the vote-by-mail system.

Fox News Digital reached out to Sylvia Sims Bolton, the City of Waukegan, the Lake County State’s Attorney Office and the Lake County Clerk’s Office for comment.

In a Manhattan court on Wednesday, a man was sentenced to three years in prison for a brutal attack on a 60-year-old disabled woman. The incident, which took place at a subway station, involved the assailant striking the victim with a belt and cane more than 50 times.

Judge Julieta Lozano imposed the sentence on Norton Blake, a 43-year-old resident of the Bronx. In addition to the prison term, Blake has been ordered to maintain a distance from the victim for the next eight years, following the assault that was captured on camera on September 1, 2023.

According to prosecutors, Blake launched a vicious attack on Laurell Reynolds, repeatedly hitting her on the head, stomach, legs, arms, back, and hands with both a belt and cane. The assault occurred at the subway station located at West 116th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem.

Assistant District Attorney Nicole Borczyk, speaking during the sentencing, described the attack as causing “substantial pain” to the victim, who cried out during the ordeal.

Reynolds required two weeks of hospitalization following the assault and subsequently received care at a nursing facility. The violent incident was captured on video by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker, providing key evidence in the case.

Borczyk said that Blake, who attended court in a wheelchair, exhibited “genuine remorse” for what he did, and that he is not a predicate felon.

In turn, Blake’s defense attorney said he “admitted he went too far” and claimed that his client “did not recognize that this individual was a female.”

After his arrest, Blake claimed that he was trying to help Reynolds up the stairs at the subway station when she “fell down the stairs.”

He also alleged that Reynolds threw bags down the stairs at him, chucked a can of soup and took his cane, using it to try to hit him.

Blake has a record of 9 prior arrests.

Brazilian actress and model Bruna Marquezine has recently caught the attention of her followers due to her noticeably slimmer physique.

The 30-year-old, currently in a relationship with pop sensation Shawn Mendes, became the subject of discussion after her appearance at the Golden Globes in January.

During the event, the Blue Beetle actress appeared significantly more slender than usual, and she later posted a behind-the-scenes snapshot on Instagram that quickly went viral, highlighting her visible sternum, ribs, and collarbones.

In March, Marquezine showcased her svelte figure once more while attending the Academy Awards in Hollywood.

Her recent transformation has sparked a flurry of comments on her Instagram profile, with both fans and critics voicing concerns about her weight, noting that she previously had a curvier figure.

‘Bruna is beautiful in every way. But the culture of extreme thinness is “screwing up” the heads of women around the world, unfortunately,’ commented one.

Brazilian actress and model Bruna Marquezine has alarmed fans with her slender frame

The 30-year-old is currently dating pop star Shawn Mendes

‘It’s her body and she feels good about it… but don’t normalize it because it’s not normal to be like that,’ wrote another.

A third argued, ‘I think for her line of work she “has” to stay in a slimmer shape.’

Another wrote, ‘People, I thought the photo on Twitter was fake and it’s not!’ 

Others have defended the star, insisting that she’s still healthy and beautiful at any size.

Marquezine has discussed her weight loss in the past, revealing on Instagram in 2018 that she battled body image issues in her early 20s.

‘I hated my body, thought I needed to lose weight, and took a laxative every day for three months,’ she wrote at the time, according to The Sun.

Since recovering, the actress had denied suffering from an eating disorder and has repeatedly insisted that she’s happy with how she looks.

‘I am very healthy and happy with who I am and with my body. That’s all that matters,’ she said in 2020.

The actress first set tongues wagging after attending the Golden Globes back in January

She showed off her slender figure again in March while attending the Academy Awards 

Marquezine has also repeatedly fired back at online trolls over their continued speculation around her weight. 

‘Women’s bodies are not only there to please men, or please anyone for that matter, we just want to be healthy and happy,’ she wrote.

‘If you have opinions that are likely to offend or make someone feel bad about their body, no matter your intention, just stay quiet and do not comment.’

Marquezine is one of Brazil’s biggest stars, boasting over 43million followers on Instagram alone.

She’s been in the spotlight since childhood and was able to transition from a child star into a legitimate actress, primarily starring in popular soap operas. 

The Brazilian beauty is now making inroads in the American market, largely thanks to her role in the 2023 DC Comics blockbuster Blue Beetle and her romance with pop star Shawn Mendes. 

The genetically-blessed couple have been dating since late last year and were recently spotted canoodling on a beach in Rio de Janeiro together.  

Before being romantically linked to the Señorita singer, Marquezine was in an on-off relationship with Brazilian soccer star Neymar.

Fans of the Brazilian bombshell have pointed out that she used to be much curvier. (Pictured in 2017)

Marquezine has noticeably lost a lot of weight over the past decade. (Pictured 2017 and 2026)

The actress and model is pictured walking the runway in 2015, shortly before her 20th birthday

Marquezine has insisted that she’s ‘healthy and happy’. Pictured in 2015

It comes after Mendes addressed ongoing speculation about his sexuality during an October 2024 concert. 

Telling his fans he was trying to be ‘really brave,’ the crooner — who famously dated Camila Cabello in the past — revealed he was still ‘figuring it out’.

‘There’s this thing about my sexuality, and people have been talking about it so long,’ he stated, adding it was ‘kind of silly, because I think sexuality is such a beautifully complex thing, and it’s so hard to just put into boxes’. 

‘The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that, man, I’m just figuring it out like everyone,’ he announced.

Mendes explained, ‘It always felt like such an intrusion on something very personal to me. Something that I was figuring out in myself, something that I had yet to discover and still have yet to discover it.’

Marquezine attended a fashion event in Sao Paulo on Wednesday

The actress poses for photos at the Mondepars fashion show on Wednesday

He continued, ‘And it feels really scary because we live in a society that has a lot to say about that.

‘And I’m trying to be really brave and just allow myself to be a human and feel things. And that’s all I really want to say about that for now.’

The In My Blood hitmaker also shared: ‘I was really young when I started. I was 15 years old. The truth is that I didn’t get to do a lot of 15-year-old things and discover parts of myself that you do at 15.’

He made the remarks before performing his song The Mountain, which includes the lyrics: ‘You can say I’m too young / You can say I’m too old / You can say I like girls or boys / whatever fits your mold.’

He also spoke about the songwriting process, telling the audience, ‘Writing the song felt really important to me because it felt like a moment where I could address it in a way that felt close to my heart.

‘And I guess I’m just speaking freely now, because I just want to be able to be closer to everyone and just kind of be in my truth.’ 

As protests intensified outside Delaney Hall, President Donald Trump dismissed the demonstrators as “fake” and “paid for,” amid increasing pressure from Democratic lawmakers over the facility’s conditions.

“These aren’t genuine protesters,” Trump declared during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. “They are all paid for. We operate the finest facilities of their kind anywhere in the world.”

Trump’s remarks followed several days of demonstrations at Delaney Hall, where detainees and their families have raised concerns about overcrowding, substandard living conditions, and insufficient medical care. According to Senator Andy Kim, some detainees have initiated a hunger strike in protest.

The situation intensified on Wednesday when Representatives Daniel Goldman and Jerrold Nadler, both from New York, were granted access to the facility amid mounting scrutiny over the detention center’s conditions.

PROTESTERS CLASH WITH ICE AS NJ DETENTION FACILITY DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE

President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, where he addressed protests outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark. (Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Protests outside Delaney Hall began Friday and have continued throughout the week, at times turning chaotic as demonstrators clashed with ICE agents outside the facility. On Sunday night, protesters attempted to block vehicles from entering and exiting the detention center.

On Monday, officers deployed tear gas and forcibly removed protesters during confrontations outside the facility. Video from the scene showed officers throwing one protester to the ground and dragging another away from the entrance.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also defended conditions inside Delaney Hall and dismissed criticism from detainees and Democratic lawmakers.

SOMETHING TO HIDE? ICE UNDER FIRE FOR SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS AT FOR-PROFIT DETENTION CENTER

An ICE agent wields a paintball gun from atop an armored vehicle amid ongoing protests at New Jersey’s Delaney Hall detention center in Newark. (WNYW)

“This isn’t Holiday Inn,” Mullin said when asked about complaints surrounding the facility.

Mullin also criticized elected officials who have appeared outside Delaney Hall, including Kim, who said he witnessed deteriorating conditions firsthand during a recent visit.

“I’m sorry, you probably shouldn’t have been there,” Mullin said when asked about Kim being pepper-sprayed outside the facility.

Kim told CNN detainees showed him spoiled food and described worsening conditions inside the center.

ICE agents detain a protester outside the Delaney Hall detention center after demonstrators protested the transfer of detainees in Newark, N.J., on May 26, 2026. (Andres Kudacki/AP)

“A detainee handed me a carton of milk, and I looked at it, and it was just congealed solid, I mean it was absolutely disgusting,” Kim said.

ICE officials have denied allegations that detainees are being held in unsafe or inhumane conditions at the facility.

Frogmore Cottage is slated for a transformation, as plans emerge to undo the renovations initiated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. This development follows their eviction from the property three years ago.

A source revealed to The Sun, “The cottage has been standing empty for three years. Even Prince Andrew found it unsuitable for his own residence.” The source added, “Perhaps if all traces of Harry and Meghan are removed, it might appeal to someone within the royal household.”

This move could symbolize a return to the cottage’s past, closing the chapter on its controversial association with Harry and Meghan. Restoring Frogmore to its original state may increase its desirability among royal family members.

As of now, Buckingham Palace has not responded to inquiries from Page Six regarding the plans for Frogmore Cottage.

A rep for Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

The royals were given the property as a wedding gift by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018, and they quickly got to work renovating the place, which came to a massive $2.8 million sum.

The pair renovated the cottage from what started as two detached houses and combined them into one larger family property.

But after they stepped down from their official positions as royals in 2020, they also were asked to “vacate” the premises by Harry’s dad, King Charles III, in 2023 — around the same time that Harry released his royal tell-all memoir, “Spare.” Frogmore cottage is currently owned by the Crown Estate.

In the end, the pair reportedly paid a whopping $3.3 million total for the home including rent and the renovations back to the royal family after their departure.

“The payment covers all their current obligations,” Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, confirmed to People in March 2023. “We are confident that it represents a good outcome.”

Stevens added, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a substantial contribution to the Sovereign Grant that covered the refurbishment costs of Frogmore Cottage.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex ultimately ended up settling down in a sprawling $14 million mansion in Montecito, Calif.

While the couple has mostly kept their abode under tight wraps, it’s been reported that the estate features has a pool, tennis court, tea house, rose garden, olive trees, two-bed guest house, and children’s cottage.

In 2021, Markle first shared a sneak peek of their home office while announcing her 40×40 initiative in a promotional video.

The workspace features a gorgeous $1,699 hand-crafted pine wood Pottery Barn dining table functioning as a desk, ivory chairs, a $1,800 cashmere Hermés blanket, and several carefully crafted coffee table books.

The couple’s WFH room was also included in Harry’s “Heart of Invictus” Netflix documentary, which showed the room features a stunning stone fireplace, a tan woven rug, and lots of natural light streaming in through round-top French doors.