Charges Filed Against California Woman for Fraudulent Voting

A 62-year-old woman from California has been charged with five felony counts related to voting fraud in the 2021 governor’s recall election and the 2022 primary election. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Laura Lee Yourex, a resident of Costa Mesa, allegedly registered her dog to vote.

Changes in California’s election laws, particularly after the enactment of Assembly Bill 37, have made vote-by-mail a permanent option for all registered voters. This law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, mandates that ballots be sent automatically to active voters. The DA’s office stated that Yourex has been charged with perjury, providing a forged document, and voting illegally, among other counts.

The case came to light when the Orange County Voter’s Registrar reported that a resident had self-disclosed registering his dog, named Maya, to vote. It appears that mail-in ballots were sent to the dog’s name for both the recall election and the primary election.

The press release noted that Maya’s vote was counted in the 2021 election but was not accepted in the 2022 primary.

In California, voters must complete a registration process that includes personal details such as their name, residence, and affirmation of U.S. citizenship. Interestingly, proof of residence is not required when voting for the first time.

Due to the fraudulent nature of the votes cast under the dog’s name, those ballots were challenged and ultimately rejected. Following an investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, evidence was deemed sufficient to pursue charges against Yourex.

Interestingly, Yourex reportedly shared a photo on social media in January 2022 showing her dog wearing an “I voted” sticker, and more recent posts in October 2024 suggested that Maya was still receiving votes.

She is scheduled for arrest on September 9 and faces a potential maximum sentence of six years in prison if found guilty on all counts.