Donning his signature Stetson hat, Bruce Boyer proclaims himself a cowboy, businessman, perennial political candidate, and dancer. The Ventura County resident is also a critic of the state elections process. In recent months, he has aired grievances about the ease of registering to vote and the apparent lack of oversight.
In June, he raised questions about whether it is possible to register a cartoon cat to vote, stating “If it is, the entire system is fraud.” Now, six months later, prosecutors are alleging that Boyer attempted to register various fictitious felines to vote in the months preceding the November election.
Authorities began investigating four voter registration forms flagged as suspicious by the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Office, which listed the names of cats. The forms were signed under penalty of perjury, and the handwriting appeared to be consistent with Boyer’s previous forms filled out while running for public office.
Boyer is facing four felony counts of perjury in connection to the voter registration forms. He has not yet entered a plea. Prosecutors allege that each fraudulent registration form included Boyer’s home address and was signed under penalty of perjury, with handwriting consistent with his previous forms.
Boyer has a history of running for public office, including a bid for sheriff and a failed attempt to become Ventura County clerk and recorder. He also ran for a U.S. House seat, but lost in the March primary.
Boyer claims that investigators brought the completed forms to his home, but did not mention they had been stained with an unknown substance and emitted a foul odor. He suspects the charges are politically motivated, brought by those who do not appreciate his questioning of the status quo.
Boyer’s concerns about voter fraud have been ongoing, particularly since a neighbor admitted to registering their cat to vote in 2022. He wonders if it is possible, and so he tried it himself using the name Felix T. Cat, he said. He did not provide a Social Security number or driver’s license number, and the secretary of state followed up on the application because it was not signed.