A 62-year-old California woman is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly registering her dog to vote and submitting ballots in two elections, one of which was successfully counted.
Prosecutors say Laura Lee Yourex, of Costa Mesa, is charged with five felonies, including perjury, submitting a forged document, and casting a ballot when not entitled to vote. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced the charges this week, noting that the fraudulent vote was counted during the 2021 gubernatorial recall election, while a second attempt in the 2022 primary was rejected.
Social Media Posts Raised Red Flags
Investigators said the scheme came to light in 2024 when Yourex herself told the Orange County Registrar of Voters that she had registered her dog, Maya Jean Yourex, to vote. The registrar alerted prosecutors, who reviewed her voter history and social media activity.
Authorities said Yourex had posted a photo of Maya wearing an “I Voted” sticker alongside her ballot in January 2022. In October 2024, another post showed Maya’s dog tag and a mail-in ballot with the caption: “Maya is still getting her ballot.” By that point, officials confirmed, the dog had already died.
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Facing Prison Time
If convicted on all counts, Yourex could face up to six years in state prison. Her arraignment, originally set for September 9, has been rescheduled for December 10.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has emphasized that while isolated, the case demonstrates how seriously California takes any attempt at election fraud.
