A California woman, Laura Yourex, appeared in court on Tuesday over charges stemming from her decision to register her deceased dog, Maya Jean, to vote — an act that could land her in prison for up to six years.
Yourex, 62, of Costa Mesa, south of Los Angeles, posted images on social media in 2021 showing Maya wearing an “I voted” sticker following California’s gubernatorial election. A later post in October 2024 featured Maya’s dog tag alongside a vote-by-mail ballot, with the caption: “maya is still getting her ballot” — despite the pet having already died.
Yourex eventually reported herself to authorities, prompting an investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s office. She now faces multiple felony charges, including perjury, submitting false documents, casting a ballot without entitlement, and registering a non-existent person — in this case, her dog — to vote.
At Tuesday’s brief court appearance, Yourex did not enter a plea. However, her lawyer, Jaime Coulter, said the act was not an attempt at electoral fraud but rather a misguided effort to expose perceived flaws in California’s voter registration system.
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“Laura Yourex sincerely regrets her unwise attempt to expose flaws in our state voting system, intending to improve it by demonstrating that even a dog can be registered to vote,” Coulter told reporters. “Her intention was to have the system investigated and ultimately improved.”
Under California law, citizens must submit a signed affidavit — under penalty of perjury — with details such as name, date of birth, address, and party affiliation to register. However, state law does not require proof of identification or residence to either register or vote in state elections.
“This loophole was what Yourex sought to exploit,” prosecutors said. Still, they confirmed that the 2022 primary ballot issued in Maya Jean’s name was flagged and ultimately rejected.
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The case comes amid ongoing national debates over voter roll integrity. Republican figures have for years claimed, often without evidence, that voter rolls are rife with deceased or non-citizen registrants — a narrative that has intensified since the 2020 presidential election.
Yourex’s next court date has not yet been announced. If convicted on all charges, she could face a prison sentence of up to six years.
