News Summary
Laura Lee Yourex, a 62-year-old woman from Costa Mesa, faces five felony charges for allegedly registering her dog to vote in California elections. District officials reported that she submitted her dog’s name to participate in the 2021 recall election and the 2022 primary election, mailing in ballots for both. While the first vote was accepted, the second was rejected after she self-reported her actions. This incident has raised concerns regarding voter fraud in Orange County, prompting local authorities to review voter registration practices.
Costa Mesa, California – A local woman, Laura Lee Yourex, 62, has been charged with five felony offenses for allegedly registering her dog to vote in California elections. Yourex is accused of submitting her dog, Maya Jean Yourex’s name to participate in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary election.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Yourex mailed in ballots for Maya, with the 2021 vote being accepted while the 2022 vote was rejected. Following this incident, Yourex self-reported her actions to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, leading to scrutiny from both local officials and law enforcement.
Yourex has been officially charged with one count of perjury, one count of procuring or offering a false or forged document to be filed, two counts of casting a ballot when not entitled to vote, and one count of registering a non-existent person to vote. If convicted, she faces up to six years in state prison.
The incident has raised concerns regarding potential voter fraud in Orange County. In response, Orange County supervisors have directed staff to cross-reference voter rolls with pet registration data before the upcoming November special election. This initiative was a direct response to Yourex’s actions, as it was reported that she bragged about her dog’s fraudulent voting on social media.
In light of this incident, the Registrar of Voters, Bob Page, emphasized the importance of maintaining election integrity and noted that his office has been actively reviewing voter records to ensure accuracy. Since the revelation of the dog voting case, nearly 8,000 pet registration records have been examined for discrepancies with voter rolls.
Furthermore, the Orange County Board of Supervisors issued a statement expressing their concern over voter fraud, with some officials calling for closer scrutiny of the voter registration system in light of the ongoing investigation. The board also highlighted a separate lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against the Orange County Registrar of Voters regarding non-citizen voting records, which adds another layer to the scrutiny of election practices in the area.
Supervisor Dan Wagner noted that the registration incident is indicative of broader issues within the voting rolls, suggesting that a review is necessary to affirm the integrity of the voting system. Conversely, Supervisor Katrina Foley downplayed the fears of widespread fraud, arguing that evidence shows stability and integrity within the voting system.
The upcoming special election in November could significantly influence California’s political landscape, particularly concerning Proposition 50, which may change the state’s congressional map. In an effort to maintain election integrity, the Orange County Registrar of Voters has previously updated voter rolls by removing 175,000 names following the presidential election due to changes in residency or ineligibility.
Laura Yourex’s actions have drawn media attention, and her attorney stated that she intended to highlight flaws within California’s voting system. Despite alleging that her motivations were to expose issues rather than perpetrate fraud, she has expressed regret for her actions.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office launched an investigation following Yourex’s self-report, which culminated in the recent filing of charges against her. As the case unfolds, it continues to shine a light on voter registration practices and the integrity of the election systems in California.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times
- Wikipedia: Voter Fraud
- CBS News
- Google Search: California voter fraud
- ABC7
- Google Scholar: California voting system
- KTLA
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Voter registration in California
- San Francisco Chronicle
- Google News: Orange County voting fraud
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
