In September 2025, authorities charged a woman from Orange County, California, with voter data fraud after she allegedly accessed government election systems through a programming error.
The woman, identified as 24-year-old Laura Lee Yourex, was a Trump supporter who prosecutors say was not attempting to alter election results but instead sought personal information from voter databases. Investigators said she had been studying the system for some time before discovering a small coding flaw that allowed her unauthorized entry.
Once inside, officials said Yourex was able to review voter files and extract information before the breach was detected. Experts explained that while she did not change ballots or election outcomes, her access still posed a major risk because of the sensitivity of voter data. Personal details such as addresses, birth dates and voting history can be valuable for identity theft or political targeting.
The discovery raised questions about the safeguards protecting voter information. “Even if the intent was not to change votes, unauthorized access undermines public trust in elections,” said one cybersecurity analyst.
Yourex later secured a government job, where officials discovered she had previously exploited the same system. After her activities came to light, she was fired and investigated. Prosecutors ultimately charged her with five felony counts, including computer fraud and unlawful access to government records. She faces up to six years in prison if convicted.
Officials said the breach has since been patched, and a review was launched to strengthen protections. Election officials have stressed that no ballots were altered, but the case has reignited debates about cybersecurity and election integrity ahead of the 2026 midterms.
