'You can't let voting dogs vote'

FEDERAL WAY, Wash., June 22 (UPI) -- A Washington grandmother is in trouble with the law for registering her dog to vote and filing an absentee ballot for him.

Jane Balogh of Federal Way, Wash., told the Seattle Times a prosecutor warned her that if she declines to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge she faces a felony -- providing false information on a voter registration form. She plans to take the deal.

"They say you should let sleeping dogs lie, but you can't let voting dogs vote," said Acting Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg.

Balogh was trying to show a new law makes it too easy to register to vote. She put her phone in the name of Duncan M. MacDonald, who happens to be her Australian shepherd-terrier mix, then used the bill to register him.

MacDonald never actually voted, since Balogh wrote "Void" on any ballots she cast for him. She did sign his absentee ballot with a paw print, resulting in a call from an election worker.

When she was told she could not sign a ballot with a paw print, Balogh responded, "I can if he's a dog."