California Woman Charged for Voting with Dog’s Name
A woman from California has been charged for unlawfully registering her dog to vote and casting two ballots using the canine’s identity, according to authorities.
Laura Lee Yourex, 62, from Costa Mesa, faces five felony counts, including perjury, submitting a forged document, unauthorized ballot casting, and registering a fictitious voter, as per the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Yourex allegedly sent mail-in ballots for her dog, named Maya Jean Yourex, during both the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary election. The District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the ballot from the recall was counted, while the primary ballot was dismissed.
In October of the previous year, Yourex self-reported to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, prompting an investigation by the District Attorney’s Office. Authorities discovered that she had shared details of her dog’s voting activities on social media.
In January 2022, she posted an image of her pet adorned with an “I Voted” sticker while holding a ballot. Additionally, in October, she shared a photo of the dog’s collar alongside a mail-in ballot addressed to Maya, claiming that the animal still received ballots despite having passed away.
“Maya is still getting her ballot,” Yourex remarked in her post.
If convicted on all charges, Yourex could face a maximum of six years in prison.
The District Attorney’s Office did not disclose the method by which Yourex cast the fraudulent votes or which political party benefitted from the dog’s ballots.
In California, to register to vote, an individual must complete a form providing personal information, political preference, and affirmation of citizenship under penalty of perjury. Though proof of identification or residence is not obligatory for voter registration, it is necessary for first-time voters to provide such evidence to participate in federal elections.
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