Costa Mesa woman charged with five felonies for dog voting scheme

A Costa Mesa woman has been charged with five felonies after prosecutors say she registered her dog to vote and cast two mail ballots in the animal's name during statewide California elections, officials said Friday. Laura Lee Yourex, 62, is accused of submitting ballots under the name Maya Jean Yourex in the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said one of the mail ballots was counted in the 2021 recall of Governor Gavin Newsom, which voters rejected by nearly 62 percent, and the 2022 primary ballot was rejected. The charges include two counts of casting a ballot when not entitled to vote, and single counts each of perjury, procuring or offering a false or forged document to be filed, and registering a nonexistent person to vote. If convicted on all counts, Yourex faces up to six years in prison, the office said.

The inquiry began in late October after the Orange County Registrar of Voters office notified prosecutors that a resident had self-reported registering her dog and casting ballots addressed to the animal, District Attorney spokeswoman Kimberly Edds said. Investigators said they...