A California woman is facing several felony charges after her dog was successfully registered to vote and even had a ballot counted in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election.
Orange County’s 2021 recall and 2022 primary elections drew heavy turnout, but what stood out most was an unexpected “voter” slipping through the system. Prosecutors now say those races had an unexpected participant: a Costa Mesa resident’s dog.
CBS reported, the pet in question was Maya Jean Yourex, a now-deceased dog whose owner, 62-year-old Laura Lee Yourex, allegedly signed her up to vote and submitted ballots in her name. One ballot was accepted in the 2021 recall, though a later attempt in 2022 was rejected.
Dog owner could face 6 years behind bars
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Yourex self-reported the scheme in October 2024, admitting she had registered her dog to vote. Investigators later uncovered social media posts showing Maya wearing an “I Voted” sticker alongside a ballot, and another post claiming the dog was still receiving mail-in ballots even after she died.
Officials say the ballot cast in Maya’s name was successfully counted in 2021 due to California’s registration rules, which don’t require proof of ID or residence for state elections. However, the 2022 ballot was flagged and rejected because of additional requirements for federal election cycles.
Yourex has now been charged with five felonies: perjury, registering a non-existent person to vote, procuring or offering a false document, and two counts of casting a ballot when not entitled. If convicted, she faces up to six years in state prison.
