California woman registers dog to vote, faces felony charges for casting two ballots

In a bizarre case of voter fraud, Laura Lee Yourex, a 62-year-old woman from Costa Mesa, California, has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly registering her dog to vote and casting mail-in ballots in the canine's name in two separate elections.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced the charges on September 5, 2025, following an investigation triggered by self-reporting and social media evidence.

Yourex allegedly registered her dog, Maya Jean Yourex, to vote in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election and again in the 2022 primary election. Prosecutors say Maya’s ballot was successfully counted in the 2021 recall election but was rejected during the 2022 primary due to procedural scrutiny.


The investigation revealed that Yourex publicly posted on social media in January 2022 a photo of her dog wearing an “I Voted” sticker and holding the ballot. In October 2024, Yourex posted another image showing a dog tag alongside a mail-in ballot with the caption, “maya is still getting her ballot,” despite the dog having passed away earlier.

Felony charges and legal implications

Laura Lee Yourex faces five felony counts including:

• Perjury
• Procuring or offering a false or forged document to be filed
• Casting a ballot when not entitled to vote (two counts)
• Registering a non-existent person to vote

If convicted on all counts, Yourex could face up to six years in California state prison, emphasizing the seriousness with which election fraud is treated.

California’s election laws require registrants to submit an affidavit under penalty of perjury, affirming their citizenship and providing personal details such as residence and political preference. While proof of residence or identification is generally not required to register or vote in state elections, it is mandatory for first-time voters in federal elections. This discrepancy partly explains why Maya’s vote counted in 2021 but was rejected in 2022.

The Orange County Registrar of Voters initiated the report after Yourex self-reported her actions in October 2024. The District Attorney’s Office conducted a thorough investigation, corroborated by social media posts and official records before proceeding with charges.

FAQs

Q: How did a dog get registered to vote?
A: Yourex submitted an affidavit falsely registering her dog, Maya Jean Yourex, as a voter, a violation of election laws requiring truthful, personal details under penalty of perjury.

Q: Was the dog’s vote ever counted?
A: Yes, the ballot cast in Maya’s name during the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election was counted. The 2022 primary ballot was rejected after review.

Q: Is proof of ID required to register or vote in California?
A: Proof is not required to register or vote in state elections but is mandatory for first-time federal voters.