MetaMarkets Secures Exclusive Interview With Owner of 'Maya the Voter Dog,' the Canine Who Was Registered to Vote in Two California Elections

Laura Yourex Speaks Publicly for the First Time About Why She Registered Her Dogs to Vote, What She Learned and the National Firestorm That Followed

PALO ALTO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / February 16, 2026 / MetaMarkets, a social prediction platform focused on outcome-based markets tied to publicly verifiable data, today announced it has conducted an exclusive sit-down interview with Laura Lee Yourex, the 62-year-old Costa Mesa, California, woman who made international headlines after registering her dogs "Maya Jean Yourex" and "Bill Yourex" as voters and casting mail-in ballots under their names in California elections.

The wide-ranging interview, which will be published on MetaMarkets' platform and social channels, marks the first time Yourex has spoken at length in her own words about the events that led to felony charges and about the broader questions her case has raised regarding voter registration integrity in the United States.

"This is one of the most talked-about election integrity stories in recent memory, and yet the public has only heard fragments of Laura's side of it," said Philip Fung, founder of MetaMarkets. "Our platform is built around verifiable outcomes and transparent data. This interview fits squarely into that mission, giving people the full, unfiltered story behind a case that has sparked a genuine national conversation about how voter registration systems work, and where they fall short."

Background: The Case of Maya and Bill the Voter Dogs

In 2021, Yourex registered her dog under the name "Maya Jean Yourex" as a California voter and submitted a mail-in ballot in the dog's name during the gubernatorial recall election. She repeated the process during the 2022 primary election. Yourex also registered a second dog, "Bill Yourex," using the same method, further demonstrating what she described as systemic gaps in California's voter registration process.

Under California elections code, voters may register by submitting an affidavit, signed under penalty of perjury, that includes their name, residence, date of birth, and party preference. Proof of identification or residence is not required for state election registration, which allowed both Maya Jean's and Bill's registrations to be processed without detection.

The 2021 recall ballot cast under Maya Jean's name was counted. The 2022 primary ballot was challenged and rejected because first-time voters in federal elections are subject to additional verification requirements. Yourex later reported herself to the Orange County Registrar of Voters' Office in October 2024, and the matter was referred to the Orange County District Attorney. She was subsequently charged with multiple felonies, including perjury and procuring a false or forged document, and faces up to six years in prison.

Social media posts further drew public attention to the case. Yourex had posted a January 2022 photograph of Maya wearing an "I voted" sticker alongside a ballot, and an October 2024 image showing Maya's dog tag next to a vote-by-mail envelope with the caption "maya is still getting her ballot," posted after the dog had already passed away. The registration of Bill as a second voter dog added another layer to the story, reinforcing Yourex's claim that the system had virtually no safeguards in place to catch fraudulent registrations.

What the Interview Covers

In the MetaMarkets exclusive, Yourex discusses her motivations in detail, describing her actions as a deliberate attempt to demonstrate vulnerabilities in California's voter registration process. The interview explores how she navigated the registration system with both Maya and Bill, her reaction when Maya's ballot was actually counted, the moment she decided to self-report to authorities, and how the ensuing legal proceedings and media scrutiny have affected her life. Yourex also shares her perspective on the national debate her case has fueled and whether she believes the system has since been improved.

"I never expected it to go this far," Yourex says in the interview. "I thought someone would catch it right away. When they didn't, and when I was able to do the same thing with Bill, I realized the problem was bigger than I imagined."

Why MetaMarkets

MetaMarkets' core platform enables users to participate in outcome-based markets structured around publicly verifiable social media metrics and digital signals. The Yourex interview aligns with the company's broader interest in how verifiable data, public transparency, and measurable outcomes intersect with real-world systems, including elections.

"At MetaMarkets, everything we do revolves around transparency and independently verifiable outcomes," Fung added. "Laura's case is a real-world example of what happens when a system lacks those safeguards. That's a conversation worth having, and we're proud to be the platform bringing it to the public."

The full interview will be available on MetaMarkets' website at https://marketsonmeta.com and across the company's social media channels. Members of the media seeking additional comment, interview clips or to arrange a follow-up conversation with Philip Fung or Laura Yourex are encouraged to contact MetaMarkets directly using the information provided below.

About MetaMarkets

MetaMarkets is a social prediction platform that enables users to participate in outcome-based markets tied to publicly available social media metrics. The platform focuses on measurable digital signals such as engagement counts, follower milestones, and other verifiable indicators across major social platforms.

Designed around transparency and clearly defined resolution rules, MetaMarkets structures each market using objective data sources and predetermined settlement criteria. This allows outcomes to be independently verified and reduces ambiguity for participants.

MetaMarkets positions itself as a technology-driven experimentation platform at the intersection of social data, forecasting, and community participation. The company does not provide investment advice and encourages users to review all platform rules and disclosures prior to participation.

Media Contact:

Philip Fung

MetaMarkets

2707 Ramona St., Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA

Phone: (818) 660-0930

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://marketsonmeta.com

SOURCE: MetaMarkets