Woman Accused of Illegally Registering Dog to Vote and Casting Two Ballots

A woman from Costa Mesa, California, is facing multiple felony charges after authorities discovered she illegally registered her dog to vote and submitted two ballots in its name.

Laura Lee Yourex, aged 62, was charged with five crimes, including perjury, submitting false documents, voting when not eligible, and registering a non-existent person. She reportedly used her dog, Maya Jean Yourex, to cast mail-in ballots during the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary election.

The ballot for the gubernatorial recall was accepted and counted, but the primary election ballot was rejected. Yourex admitted to the activity after reporting herself last year, which prompted an investigation. During the probe, she posted on social media with a photo of her dog wearing an “I Voted” sticker alongside a ballot, confirming her involvement.

In a social media post, she showed her dog’s collar and stated that Maya still received mail-in ballots despite having passed away. Specifically, she posted a photo of the dog’s collar and an envelope addressed to her deceased pet, claiming the ballot was still received.

If convicted on all counts, Yourex could face up to six years in prison. The prosecutors did not disclose how she voted or which party the dog’s ballots supported. To register to vote in California, individuals must provide personal and citizenship information under penalty of perjury, although proof of residence is not required for voter registration or ballot casting.