[3] Bolton stood in the 1904 election for the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia in the North Fremantle electoral district, winning the seat.

[5] At the 1917 election, Bolton narrowly lost his seat to Samuel Rocke whilst away on active service in France during World War I.

[8] He contested the Legislative Council seat of West Province as an independent candidate, advocating for soldiers' rights,[9] in the 1919 by-election, losing to Labor's Alexander Panton.

[2][10][11] Bolton stood in the 1922 Australian federal election in the division of Perth, losing to Edward Mann of the Nationalist Party.

[2][6] In late 1918, it was reported that Bolton was suffering from "disordered action of the heart" and being treated at the 3rd General Wandsworth Military Hospital in London.