Dog Owner Faces Backlash After Voting Registration Stunt

WHO:

US Magazine - Laura Lee Yourex is the California woman charged with illegally registering her dog to vote.

NY Post - Maya Jean Yourex is the name of the dog that was registered to vote.

WHAT:

US Magazine - Laura Lee Yourex was charged with five felonies for illegally registering her dog to vote in two elections.

NY Post - A plea deal resulted in prosecutors dropping four of the five felonies against Yourex.

WHERE:

US Magazine - The events took place in Costa Mesa, California.

WHEN:

US Magazine - The illegal voting registration occurred during California's gubernatorial recall election in 2021.

WHY:

US Magazine - The registration of the dog to vote was part of a stunt by Yourex.

HOW:

US Magazine - Yourex submitted ballots in the name of her dog, Maya Jean Yourex.

(UPDATED October 17, 2026 05:56 UTC)

Laura Lee Yourex from Costa Mesa, California, has been charged with five felonies for illegally registering her dog, Maya Jean Yourex, to vote in two elections, including the 2021 gubernatorial recall election. A plea deal has led to prosecutors dropping four of those five charges against Yourex, who admitted that the registration was part of a stunt. Yourex submitted ballots in her dog's name, highlighting the unusual nature of this case.