A 62-year-old California woman, Laura Yourex, is facing up to six years in prison after allegedly registering her dog, Maya Jean, to vote.
Prosecutors say Yourex posted photos of her dog wearing an “I Voted” sticker during the 2021 gubernatorial election and later shared a ballot addressed to Maya, even after the dog had died. She turned herself in last year and now faces multiple felony charges, including perjury and voter fraud.
Her lawyer said Yourex only wanted to expose flaws in California’s voter registration system, which does not require proof of residence or ID to register or cast ballots in state elections. Authorities noted that Maya’s 2022 primary ballot was flagged and rejected.
The case comes amid ongoing debates over US voter roll security, which has been a flashpoint in national politics.
