California resident allegedly cast mail-in ballots for her canine in two separate elections.
A woman from Costa Mesa is facing charges for allegedly registering her dog to vote and casting mail-in ballots in the dog’s name during the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary election.
Laura Lee Yourex, 62, was charged Friday with five felonies, including perjury and voter fraud. If convicted on all counts, she could face up to six years in state prison.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office began investigating Yourex after the Registrar of Voters’ Office was notified by a resident who admitted to the scheme.
READ: Trump A Secret FBI Informant Against Epstein? House Speaker Johnson Makes Shocking Claim
According to the investigation, Yourex registered her dog, Maya Jean Yourex, to vote by providing the necessary information and signing the affidavit under penalty of perjury. While the dog’s vote was successfully counted in the 2021 recall election, the ballot for the 2022 primary election was rejected.
Investigators found evidence of the alleged fraud on Yourex’s social media. One post from January 2022 showed a picture of the dog wearing an “I voted” sticker and posing with a ballot.
Another post in October 2024 featured a photo of the dog’s tag and a mail-in ballot with a caption stating that “maya is still getting her ballot,” despite the dog having already passed away.
READ: LAPD Ends Protection For Former VP Kamala Harris Amid Backlash Over Resource Allocation
The case highlights that while proof of residence and identification isn’t typically required for California citizens to register or vote in state elections, it is necessary for first-time voters in federal elections, which led to the rejection of the 2022 primary ballot.
Yourex is scheduled to be arraigned on September 9, 2025. Authorities are urging anyone with information about suspected election irregularities to contact the Orange County District Attorney’s Election Fraud Hotline.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
