California Woman Arrested After Registering Her Dog to Vote in Two Elections
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA – A bizarre voter fraud case has surfaced in Orange County after officials revealed that a woman registered her pet dog to vote in two elections. While one ballot was successfully counted in the 2021 gubernatorial recall, the other was later rejected, ultimately leading to felony charges.
Dog’s Ballot Cast in Recall Election
According to investigators, 62-year-old Laura Lee Yourex of Costa Mesa submitted registration paperwork for her dog, Maya Jean. A ballot under the dog’s name was cast and accepted during the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election.
The scheme was attempted again during the 2022 primary election, but this time the ballot was flagged and rejected. Details of the investigation show that the fraud was uncovered after Yourex reported the incident herself, for reasons that remain unclear.
Felony Charges Filed
Yourex now faces five felony counts, including perjury, offering a forged document, casting a ballot when not entitled to vote, and registering a non-existent person. Prosecutors said she is awaiting trial in Orange County court.
Officials noted that while the fraudulent ballots were unusual, they did not affect election outcomes.
Public Reaction
News of the case sparked disbelief and humor online. Some joked that election officials might now have to “sniff out voter fraud” or that California had been “barking up the wrong tree.” Others questioned how easily a fraudulent registration could slip through the system.
The incident has also reignited discussions about election security and how registration systems catch errors or attempts at fraud. Officials reassured residents that safeguards in place prevented further damage.
While the story of Maya Jean the dog may have provided laughs on social media, prosecutors stress that voter fraud — even in such unusual forms — carries serious penalties. For more updates on community news and legal cases across the U.S., follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.