California woman pays $1,500 to avoid prison after registering her dog to vote

A California woman who registered her Boxer dog to vote and submitted ballots in the animal’s name has avoided a potential six-year prison sentence after completing a plea agreement. Laura Lee Yourex, 64, of Costa Mesa, had her case dismissed on October 13 after paying $1,500 toward four anti-voter fraud billboards featuring her late dog, Maya Jean, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Yourex faced five felony charges after registering the dog and submitting ballots in its name during the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary. Under a plea deal, prosecutors dropped four felony charges after she admitted to one misdemeanor count of knowingly registering a nonexistent person to vote. Maya Jean’s ballot was counted in the 2021 recall election, while the 2022 primary ballot was challenged and rejected. The dog’s image will appear on billboards along the 55 and 22 freeways as part of a voter fraud prevention campaign ahead of the November 3 election.