Woman Registered Dog to Vote, Gets Collared With Billboard Bill After Plea

Plea agreement and dismissal

Prosecutors said Yourex’s case was dismissed after she fulfilled the conditions of her plea agreement. She originally faced five felony counts and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. As part of the agreement, Yourex had to pay $1,500 toward four billboards along the Costa Mesa (55) and Garden Grove (22) freeways.

What the billboards show

The signs feature a photo Yourex posted on social media of Maya Jean Yourex beside a mail-in ballot and wearing an “I voted” sticker. Prosecutors said Yourex had posted the image in January 2022.

The billboards warn that voter fraud is a crime and say the Orange County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute. They also include the election fraud hotline, 714-721-7578.

Admissions and ballot claims

In a written plea filing, Yourex admitted registering her dog in May 2020 while knowing the animal could not register. She also acknowledged mailing the registration affidavit to a county elections official. Officials said ballots were submitted in the dog’s name during the 2021 gubernatorial recall and the 2022 primary election.

Investigation and public response

After Yourex was indicted in September 2025, defense lawyer Jaime Coulter said she meant to expose weaknesses in the state’s registration system. He said she had reported the matter herself, hoping officials would investigate and improve the system.

Michael Gates, a former Huntington Beach city attorney, told Page that a voter had contacted him after her dog received a ballot, and he referred the matter to prosecutors. Kazemi said the system has safeguards to catch unusual cases, adding that treating this as the biggest electoral problem was misguided.