Southern California woman accused of registering dog to vote, casting 2 ballots
A Costa Mesa woman is facing up to six years in state prison after allegedly registering her dog to vote and casting two ballots—one of which was counted.
Laura Lee Yourex, 62, has been charged with five felony counts, including perjury, submitting a forged document, and casting an illegal vote, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors say Yourex used the name “Maya Jean Yourex,” her dog, to register for mail-in voting in both the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary. The ballot submitted in the 2021 recall was counted, while the 2022 primary ballot was flagged and rejected.
Yourex later reported her actions to the Orange County Registrar of Voters in October 2024, prompting an investigation. Authorities say she had documented the incidents on social media, including a 2022 photo showing the dog with an “I Voted” sticker and a 2024 post displaying the dog’s collar next to a mail-in ballot addressed to the animal, despite the dog having passed away.
Under California law, voters must sign under penalty of perjury when registering, but state elections do not require ID or proof of residency. However, federal elections do require additional verification for first-time voters, which is why the second ballot was ultimately rejected.
Yourex is scheduled to appear in court next week.
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