A 62-year-old woman from California has been charged with voter fraud after allegedly registering her dog to vote.
Laura Yourex, of Costa Mesa, appeared in court on Tuesday, September 9, facing multiple felony counts that could carry up to six years in prison.
Prosecutors say she registered her pet dog, Maya Jean, and even shared photos on social media, including one showing the dog wearing an “I Voted” sticker during the 2021 gubernatorial election.
In October 2024, months after Maya had died, Yourex posted another picture of the dog’s tag alongside a vote-by-mail ballot with the caption “maya is still getting her ballot.”
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Yourex reported herself to authorities last year, triggering an investigation. She was later charged with perjury, submitting false documents, casting an illegal ballot, and registering a non-existent person to vote.
Her attorney, Jaime Coulter, said she acted not to commit fraud but to expose weaknesses in California’s voter registration system. He added that she “deeply regrets her unwise attempt” and only wanted to prompt reforms.
California law allows voter registration through an affidavit signed under penalty of perjury without requiring proof of residence or identification for state elections, though additional requirements apply in federal elections. Officials confirmed that the 2022 primary ballot submitted in the dog’s name was flagged and rejected.
The case has reignited debate over voter roll security, a subject of growing controversy in the United States.
