A 62-year-old woman from Costa Mesa, California, has been charged with multiple felonies after registering her dog, “Maya Jean Yourex,” to vote and casting mail-in ballots in its name during two elections. Laura Lee Yourex allegedly used the dog’s identity to submit votes in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary.
Yourex faces six felony charges, including perjury, procuring a false document, illegally casting ballots, and registering a non-existent person to vote. According to court documents, her dog’s ballot was counted in the 2021 recall of Governor Gavin Newsom but rejected in the 2022 primary due to federal requirements for first-time voters.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that while California does not require proof of residence or identification for state elections, federal rules mandated verification for the 2022 ballot. Yourex allegedly continued submitting ballots under her dog’s name even after Maya Jean Yourex died, as evidenced by social media posts showing the dog wearing an “I voted” sticker and a photo of its tag alongside a mail-in ballot.
Yourex is scheduled to appear in court on September 9, 2025, facing up to six years in prison if convicted. The case has sparked public debate about voter fraud and election integrity, with critics questioning how such an act could occur under current voting procedures.
