A California woman, Laura Lee Yourex, 62, from Costa Mesa, is facing five felony charges after illegally registering her dog to vote and casting two ballots under the canine’s name during the 2021 and 2022 elections. According to officials, Yourex submitted mail-in ballots for her dog, Maya Jean Yourex, during the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary election. The recall ballot was counted, but the primary ballot was rejected. In October of last year, Yourex self-reported her actions to the Orange County Registrar of Voter’s Office, which then reported her to the District Attorney’s Office.
An investigation revealed that Yourex had previously posted about her dog’s voting activity on social media. In January 2022, she shared a photo of her dog wearing an ‘I Voted’ sticker and posing with the ballot. In October of last year, she posted a photo of the dog’s collar and a mail-in ballot addressed to the animal, stating that Maya still received the ballot despite passing away. ‘Maya is still getting her ballot,’ Yourex wrote. Yourex faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison if convicted on all counts.
The District Attorney’s Office has not revealed how Yourex cast the fraudulent votes or which party received the dog’s votes. To register to vote in California, an eligible voter must provide identifiable information, political preference, and affirm their citizenship, with perjury penalties. While proof of residence or identification is not required for state elections, additional verification is necessary for federal elections. The case has sparked ongoing discussions about election integrity and the legal implications of voter fraud, with authorities emphasizing the seriousness of such actions in maintaining the public’s trust in democratic processes.