Laura Lee Yourex, 62, from Costa Mesa, California, faces five felony charges: making a false affidavit, providing or offering a forged instrument for filing, voting when not qualified, procuring illegal voting, and registering a nonexistent person to vote, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Yourex is scheduled to appear in Westminster Court on 9/9/2025. She faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison if convicted on all counts, according to prosecutors.

Maya Jean, the dog registered to vote twice, leading to charges against her owner. Photo: SCMP

Maya Jean, the dog registered to vote twice, leading to charges against her owner. Photo: SCMP

Of the two fraudulent ballots Yourex submitted in her dog's name, one, the gubernatorial recall ballot, was counted, while the primary election ballot was rejected.

Yourex self-reported the incident in October 2024 to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, which then reported it to the District Attorney's Office.

The investigation revealed Yourex had posted about her dog's voting activity on social media. In January 2022, she posted a photo of her dog wearing an "I Voted" sticker and posing with a ballot.

In October 2024, she posted a photo of the dog's collar and a mail-in ballot addressed to the deceased animal, boasting that the dog was still receiving ballots. "Maya is still getting her ballot," she wrote on social media.

Yourex boasted on Facebook that her dog continued to receive a voter ballot even after passing away. Photo: Facebook

Yourex boasted on Facebook that her dog continued to receive a voter ballot even after passing away. Photo: Facebook

The District Attorney's Office did not disclose how Yourex voted fraudulently or which party received the fraudulent vote.

To register to vote in California, eligible voters must complete a form with identifying information, political party preference, and affirm their citizenship by pledging not to give false information.

Proof of residency or identification isn't required to register to vote or vote in state elections, but it is required for first-time voters in federal elections.

Hai Thu (According to Fox)