News Summary
Laura Lee Yourex, a 62-year-old resident of Costa Mesa, has been charged with five felony counts of voter fraud after allegedly registering and voting under her dog’s name. The charges stem from an investigation following her self-report in 2024, revealing that her dog’s mail-in ballot was counted in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election. The case has raised significant concerns about electoral integrity and has prompted authorities to encourage the reporting of election-related irregularities.
Costa Mesa, California – A resident of Costa Mesa, 62-year-old Laura Lee Yourex, has been charged with five felony counts related to voter fraud for allegedly registering and voting using her dog’s name. The charges were announced by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office following an investigation that revealed Yourex submitted ballots in two elections under the name of her dog, Maya Jean Yourex.
The specific charges against Yourex include one count of perjury, one count of offering a false or forged document, two counts of casting a ballot when not entitled to vote, and one count of registering a non-existent individual to vote. If convicted on all counts, she could face up to six years in state prison.
Yourex’s alleged illegal activities began when she registered her dog to vote in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election, where the dog’s mail-in ballot was ultimately counted. However, during the subsequent 2022 primary election, Maya’s ballot was rejected due to discrepancies in registration requirements for federal elections.
The investigation into Yourex’s actions was prompted by her own self-reporting to the Orange County Registrar of Voters in October 2024. Evidence surfaced through social media posts made by Yourex, which included images of her dog wearing an “I Voted” sticker and posing with a ballot in January 2022. A more recent post in October 2024 featured a mail-in ballot alongside Maya’s dog tag, with a caption indicating that the dog, who had since passed away, was still receiving her ballot.
California law mandates that voters must complete an Affidavit of Registration, certifying their U.S. citizenship under penalty of perjury, but it does not require proof of residency for state elections. The ongoing investigation has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, leading the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to encourage individuals with information regarding any election-related irregularities to contact their Election Fraud Hotline.
The 2021 gubernatorial recall election, in which Yourex’s dog participated, ultimately failed, with 61.9% of voters rejecting the recall of then-Governor Gavin Newsom. Despite the failed attempt to recall the Governor, the importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral system remains a priority for election officials.
Yourex’s upcoming arraignment is scheduled to take place at the Stephen K. Tamura West Justice Center in Westminster, California, on Tuesday. This case highlights the ongoing efforts by authorities to address and prevent voter fraud, ensuring that only eligible voters participate in the democratic process.
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Additional Resources
- ABC7: Orange County Woman Allegedly Registered Dog to Vote
- Wikipedia: Voter Fraud
- KFI AM 640: Costa Mesa Woman Faces Charges for Registering Dog to Vote
- Google Search: California voter fraud
- Los Angeles Times: SoCal Woman Registered Her Dog to Vote
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Elections
- Newsweek: California Woman Charged for Dog Voting
- Google News: Laura Lee Yourex
