Full Breakdown
Costa Mesa Woman’s Dog-Voting Scheme Ends with Misdemeanor Plea and Anti-Fraud Billboards
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Laura Lee Yourex, 64, of Costa Mesa, California, illegally registered her pet, Maya Jean Yourex, as a voter and submitted mail-in ballots in the dog’s name during the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary election. The 2021 ballot was counted; the 2022 ballot was rejected after additional verification requirements for first-time federal voters were applied.
Background & Context
California election law requires voters to complete an Affidavit of Registration that includes personal details and a certification of U.S. citizenship, signed under penalty of perjury. Proof of residence or identification is not normally required for state elections, but federal elections impose extra identification checks on first-time voters.
Timeline
- May 7 2020 (approx.) – Yourex registers Maya Jean as a voter, acknowledging the animal’s ineligibility.
- October 28 2024 – The Orange County Registrar of Voters alerts the District Attorney’s Office after a resident self-reports the dog registration.
- September 2025 – The District Attorney files five felony counts: perjury, false document, two counts of casting an unauthorized ballot, and registering a nonexistent person.
- April 10 2026 – Prosecutors dismiss four felonies and reduce the remaining charge to a misdemeanor as part of a plea agreement.
- Midterm election on November 3 – Four billboards featuring Maya Jean will remain on the 55 and 22 freeways until this date.
Legal Proceedings
Under the plea, Yourex paid $1,500 for four anti-voter-fraud billboards. Had the felony charges stood, the maximum penalty could have been up to six years in prison.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Orange County District Attorney’s Office issued a press release stating that the billboards are intended to warn “anyone who cannot legally vote” against fraud and to provide the Election Fraud Hotline (714-721-7578).
- Registrar Bob Page confirmed that the case originated from a tip received in October 2024 and that the investigation was referred promptly to the District Attorney’s Office.
Criticism & Opposition
Legal scholar Nahal Kazemi noted, “There isn’t a lot of voter fraud and the system has checks in place, so if something anomalous happens it is possible to catch it.”
Verbatim Quote
- “Don’t be a dog. Voter Fraud is a Crime. If you can’t legally vote, don’t vote. The Orange County District Attorney's Office will prosecute.” — Laura Lee Yourex
What’s Next
The billboards will stay in place along the 55 and 22 freeways until the midterm election on November 3, serving as a public reminder that only eligible persons may register and vote. The District Attorney’s Office continues to encourage the public to report suspected election irregularities via its hotline.