A Costa Mesa woman was sentenced to pay for anti-voter-fraud billboards after registering her dog to vote and casting ballots in its name during recent elections, authorities said Thursday.

Laura Lee Yourex, 64, faced five felony charges stemming from incidents in 2021 and 2022. Prosecutors reported that Yourex had registered her dog Maya to vote and submitted mail-in ballots on behalf of the animal. One of the dog's votes was counted during the 2021 California recall election against Governor Gavin Newsom, while another was rejected in the 2022 primary election.

The case came to light after Yourex posted a photo on social media in January 2022 showing her dog with a ballot and wearing an "I voted" sticker. The Orange County registrar of voters flagged the matter in October 2024, prompting an investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation. The investigation uncovered sufficient evidence to file criminal charges related to illegal voter registration and ballot submission.

Further scrutiny arose when, in October 2024, Yourex shared another post depicting the pet ID tag of Maya alongside a vote-by-mail ballot, along with the caption, “Maya is still getting her ballot.” Prosecutors noted that the dog had passed away prior to this post.

In April 2026, Yourex entered a plea agreement. As part of the resolution, she was ordered to fund four billboards along the 55 and 22 freeways in Orange County, to remain in place through the November 3 midterm elections. The billboards display the original photo of Maya with the ballot and carry the message: “Don’t be a dog. Voter Fraud is a Crime. If you can’t legally vote, don’t vote. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute.”

The district attorney’s office emphasized the importance of safeguarding election integrity and prosecuting fraudulent voting activity.