Illinois GOP Chairman Bob Grogan is calling on a Democratic Waukegan city official to resign after prosecutors said she submitted her dead mother’s vote-by-mail ballot, a case conservatives say exposes broader concerns about mail-in voting and voter-roll safeguards even though the ballot was caught before it was counted.

A Waukegan, Illinois alderman, Sylvia Sims Bolton, turned herself on Wednesday after prosecutors said she submitted her dead mother’s vote-by-mail ballot during a March primary election, which has resulted in two charges, including one Class 4 Felony.

According to the Office of the State’s Attorney in Lake County, Illinois, a vote-by-mail ballot for Mary Sims, Bolton’s late-mother, was issued in the first tranche of ballots to go out from the Lake County Clerk’s Office in February. Just days later, however, the same office processed the cancellation of Mary Sim’s voter registration after receiving a notification of her passing from the Illinois Department of Public Health via the state’s Board of Elections voter registration system. 

After the ballot was dropped by Bolton at an official ballot drop box, it went through the county’s established security and verification protocols, which flagged that the voter’s death record was processed prior to the ballot being submitted and ultimately spurred the sheriff’s office investigation leading to the charges against Bolton.

PA WOMAN CHARGED WITH TRYING TO REGISTER DEAD PEOPLE, INCLUDING OWN FATHER, TO VOTE

«A dead person voting, that you’re actually aware that they’re dead, is the easiest voter fraud to find. It’s like somebody leaning over the cash register and grabbing the cash out of the till,» Grogan told Fox News Digital. «But the complicated stuff, the behind-the-scenes stuff, that’s something that is harder to find … This is a one-off incident and if fraudsters do it right, it could be many, many more votes like this.»

Election integrity advocate Jason Snead, who runs the Honest Elections Project, added that the Bolton case «plainly shows that voter fraud occurs.»

«Mail ballots are especially vulnerable, which is why they should be secured, should never be mailed without a specific request from the voter, and should always be verified before they are tabulated. This case also shows how essential it is to maintain clean voter rolls,» Snead said. «Had the list maintenance process been slower, it is possible this illegal vote would have been counted before the fraud was discovered. Unfortunately, too many states—particularly blue states—actively resist commonsense safeguards, which begs the question: how many other illegal votes have slipped through the system?»

A press release from the Lake County State’s Attorney Office indicated that «all ballot envelopes» get reviewed through automated systems designed to flag irregularities that may require additional review.

Readability issues due to barcode problems, ballots being submitted for the wrong election, ballots that were previously rejected, and ballots associated with a canceled voter registration record, are all examples of irregularities that might be flagged. Other, less obvious irregularities, include whether a ballot is overweight or underweight.

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Poll workers process ballots at an elections warehouse outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 8, 2022.  (Ed JonesAFP via Getty Images))

The investigation into Bolton, who represents Waukegan’s Ward 1, began in March, and she turned herself in Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for Rinehart’s office. She has been charged with one count of Mutilation of Election Material, a Class 4 felony, for allegedly knowingly falsifying election material, and one count of Disregarding Election Code, a Class A misdemeanor.

If convicted on the felony count, Bolton could face one to three years in prison, though Illinois law also allows probation or conditional discharge for Class 4 felonies. The election-material charge also carries a five-year ban on public employment after completion of the sentence. A Class A misdemeanor conviction carries less than one year in jail and a possible fine.

According to the State’s Attorney’s office, the investigation by law enforcement officials «did not uncover any facts linking these allegations to her city duties,» adding that she «is not charged with official misconduct.»

A vote-by-mail ballot drop box is shown alongside Waukegan alderperson Sylvia Sims Bolton, who was charged after authorities alleged she submitted a ballot in her deceased mother’s name during Illinois’ 2026 primary election. (Getty Images and City of Waukegan)

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Officials in the State’s Attorney’s office also noted that they were not aware of any previous investigations related to individuals trying to use the vote-by-mail system to cast a ballot on behalf of deceased individuals.

Fox News Digital reached out to Bolton and her attorney but Fox News Digital did not receive a response in time for publication.

«This case shows the importance of having a well-funded, independent Clerk’s office that also has state-of-the-art technology,» State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement to Fox News Digital. «Clerk Vega and his team followed national best practices in order to detect and report this crime. We must say loudly to people that if you improperly vote for others, you will be caught, investigated, and prosecuted.»

La vida de Kyle Adler cambió para siempre cuando, a los 36 años, descubrió que había sido robado de su madre biológica en Chile durante la dictadura de Augusto Pinochet.

El hallazgo lo sumió en una crisis de identidad que duró años, pero también lo llevó a un reencuentro tan esperado como doloroso con su mamá, Ana María Navarrete, a quien volvió a abrazar este año.

“Siento el amor, la compasión, el cariño… es lindo volver a tener una familia”, contó Adler, todavía conmovido por la experiencia.

El reencuentro fue el resultado de una búsqueda incansable, impulsada por el rastreo de ADN y la ayuda de organizaciones que trabajan para reunir a los hijos robados con sus familias de origen.

Una historia marcada por el desarraigo y la búsqueda de identidad

Adler fue adoptado por una familia estadounidense cuando tenía apenas 9 meses. Creció en un suburbio acomodado de Chicago, sin saber que era uno de los miles de niños chilenos que fueron separados de sus familias durante los 17 años de dictadura militar.

“Mis padres no me robaron; me criaron con amor y no sabían lo que había pasado”, explicó Adler sobre sus padres adoptivos, Mike y Connie. Sin embargo, reconoció que al principio ellos no apoyaron su decisión de buscar a su madre biológica, aunque finalmente emprendió el camino solo.

El día que lo arrebataron de su madre

La madre de Adler, Ana María Navarrete, tenía 19 años y trabajaba de noche en una pescadería en la ciudad costera de Coronel.

Sin recursos para criar sola a su hijo, confió su cuidado a una mujer que, según explicó, terminó entregándolo a una pareja estadounidense tras la intervención de un sacerdote local. “Se lo llevaron y ella lo entregó”, recordó Navarrete, aún furiosa y avergonzada por lo ocurrido.

Un investigador policial le confirmó que su hijo había sido víctima de una red de adopciones fraudulentas, en la que participaban agencias, funcionarios, jueces, enfermeras y médicos. Nadie fue juzgado por estos crímenes. “Esos años fueron los peores de mi vida”, dijo la mujer.

Sin apoyo familiar, Navarrete terminó resignándose a la idea de que nunca volvería a ver a su hijo.

El camino hacia la verdad

En 2017, Adler encontró el grupo de Facebook de la ONG Nos Buscamos mientras buscaba indicios sobre su madre biológica en internet. En solo tres meses, Del Río confirmó su historia y organizó un primer reencuentro virtual.

El golpe de saber que su adopción fue ilegal lo sumió en una crisis que lo llevó a años de terapia. Pero el año pasado, Adler se animó a buscar respuestas definitivas. Un test de ADN de la plataforma MyHeritage confirmó el vínculo con Navarrete, que hoy vive en Santiago.

El reencuentro: lágrimas, recuerdos y una herida que sigue abierta

En febrero, Adler viajó desde Miami para reencontrarse con su madre en Chile. El encuentro fue el Día de San Valentín, dos días después del cumpleaños 56 de Navarrete.

Las cámaras de la agencia de noticias Associated Press captaron el momento en que madre e hijo, ambos vestidos de blanco, se fundieron en un abrazo en el aeropuerto de Santiago. “Estoy tan feliz de finalmente conocerlo, mi sueño se hizo realidad”, dijo Navarrete, entre lágrimas

Durante esa semana, recorrieron juntos la playa de Coronel, el hospital donde nació Adler y la casa de donde se lo llevaron. Recuperaron su acta de nacimiento original y él conoció a sus hermanos. En Miami, Adler también se reunió con otra hermana y su sobrina.

Adler, que no habla español, contó con la ayuda de traductores y aplicaciones para comunicarse con su familia biológica. Entre los recuerdos que llevó como regalo, estaban su diploma de graduación, fotos de la infancia y unos zapatitos de bebé que sus padres adoptivos guardaron durante años.

Sin embargo, la felicidad del reencuentro estuvo teñida de dolor. “Me costó tanto encontrarlo. Y después de pasar una semana juntos, tener que dejarlo ir… Es como si lo hubiera encontrado y ahora lo perdiera de nuevo”, dijo Navarrete entre lágrimas.

El rol de las organizaciones y la lucha por justicia

Durante el régimen de Pinochet, más de 20.000 niños fueron robados de familias pobres e indígenas, según estimaciones oficiales.

“La justicia para la gente pobre en Chile no existe; aún no existe”, denunció Constanza del Río, fundadora de la ONG Nos Buscamos, que ayuda a los adoptados a rastrear sus orígenes.

El caso de Adler no es aislado. Organizaciones como Nos Buscamos colaboran con plataformas de genealogía como MyHeritage para ofrecer pruebas de ADN gratuitas y facilitar los reencuentros. Así, cientos de familias han logrado volver a verse después de décadas.

Jimmy Lippert Thyden González, otro chileno adoptado ilegalmente, se convirtió en abogado de derechos humanos y lleva adelante una demanda contra el Estado chileno. “Fue un intento de erradicar a la clase pobre y a la población indígena”, sostuvo sobre el plan sistemático de robo de bebés.

Junto a Adler viajaba Tyler Graf, fundador y director general de la ONG Connecting Roots.

Graf también fue robado de bebé y se reencontró con su madre biológica, Hilda Quezada Godoy, décadas después de que se lo llevaran. Ahora, su misión es rastrear a otros que fueron arrancados de sus familias en Chile.“Ahora es momento de reunir a estas familias y traer a todos de vuelta a casa para que puedan ver de dónde vienen”, manifestó Graf.

El camino hacia el perdón y la esperanza de justicia

Navarrete espera que los responsables de la red de adopciones fraudulentas reciban penas de cárcel. Un estudio jurídico la asiste en su reclamo. “Quiero justicia. No solamente por mí, a lo mejor también por él, porque yo no sé la vida que le tocó a él”, expresó.

Para Adler, el proceso de sanación sigue en marcha. “No soy solo el hijo que perdiste. Soy el hijo que encontraste. He vuelto a ser tu hijo”, le dijo a su madre, con la esperanza de que algún día puedan dejar atrás el trauma y reconstruir la familia que les arrebataron.

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is fully embracing his «Talafreako» moniker given to him by Republican opponent Ken Paxton, and is even selling t-shirts with the slogan «I’m a Talafreako.»

While speaking at a general election kickoff event in Houston this week, Talarico encouraged supporters to purchase a T-shirt, saying, «I also saw that Ken Paxton started calling me ‘Talafreako,’ and I am proud to announce that we have ‘I’m a Talafreako’ t-shirts on our website. So, when you go home tonight, make sure you grab one.»

After Talarico exited the stage, the crowd at the Houston rally began chanting «Talafreako» repeatedly.

Despite the bravado, some believe that, with Talarico already having to deal with a series of highly controversial resurfaced comments, the move will backfire with moderate Texas voters. Talarico’s prior comments include saying that «God is nonbinary,» that there are six genders and that the Bible supports abortion.

‘GOD IS NON-BINARY’: TEXAS DEM NOMINEE TALARICO’S PAST REMARKS ON ABORTION, RACE AND GENDER DRAW SCRUTINY

A strategist familiar with the Senate race remarked to Fox News Digital that «Talarico can’t run from his record of supporting every freaky left-wing policy under the sun.»

«Selling merch that says ‘Talafreako’ on it is just going to remind people that he is on the wrong side of every 80/20 issue,» the strategist said, adding, «It’s so weird.»

Commenting on a clip of Talarico saying in an interview, «I love» transgender-identifying children, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., posted on X, «Talarico was constructed in a Woke Lab. In the end, that dog won’t hunt.»

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who is now set to become the state’s senior senator, posted on X, «Texas will never elect someone who thinks God is nonbinary.»

DEMOCRAT RISING STAR CALLED OUT FOR ‘CREEPY’ COMMENT ABOUT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton received President Donald Trump’s endorsement one week before his runoff election against Republican Sen. John Cornyn for the GOP Senate nomination. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

Despite this, not all believe embracing Talafreako will backfire. Eric Koch, founder of Downfield Strategies, told Fox News Digital that he «love[s]» the Talarico campaign «coopting» the jab.

«There were a lot of people wondering if James Talarico can throw a punch. In the first 24 hours of the general election, James made the case that Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in the country and called him out for giving Epstein-style sweetheart deals to pedophiles,» said Koch.

He added that the Democratic candidate «can throw a punch and will make this race a choice between himself and Paxton.»

During the kickoff rally in Houston, Talarico ripped Paxton as the «most corrupt politician in America,» who he said, «Has sold us out for years.»

If elected, he pledged that his first move in the Senate would be to file a «comprehensive anti-corruption package,» which he said would include a ban on «unlimited donations» from corporate political action committees and super PACs, as well as banning congressional stock trading, instituting term limits and establishing a national ban on gerrymandering. He also said the package would include a measure to «overhaul» the Supreme Court.

JAMES TALARICO ADMITS PAST COMMENTS ‘MISSED THE MARK’ WHEN CONFRONTED ON CLAIMS LIKE GOD IS ‘NON-BINARY’

Talarico held a general election kick-off event in Houston the day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the GOP’s Senate nomination. (Peter Pinedo/Fox News Digital)

He addressed some of the criticisms already being lodged against him, saying, «They’re going to throw everything they’ve got at us. They’ve already called me a radical leftist. They’ve already called me a fake Christian. They’ve even called me a vegan. And those are fighting words in the state of Texas.»

«They’re going to call us a threat,» he continued. «The only truth out of all of those lies is that we are a threat. We’re a threat to their corrupt system.»

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Speaking on MS NOW, Talarico asserted, «Ken Paxton has a criminal record. I have a legislative record.»

He touted himself as a bipartisan legislator, saying, «For over 4 terms in the Texas House of Representatives, I have brought Democrats and Republicans together to pass more than 60 bipartisan bills to cut property taxes, to raise teacher pay, to lower the cost of housing, prescription drugs, and childcare across Texas — and I’m gonna put that record up against Ken Paxton’s criminal record any day of the week, twice on Sunday.»

Paxton, meanwhile, has cast Talarico as too progressive, posting on X on Thursday that «James Talarico is too radical for California, let alone Texas.»

Fox News Digital reached out to Paxton and Talarico’s campaigns for additional comment.