As voters across the country head to the polls today, the Blue Cross has been warning dog owners against leaving their pets tied up outside as they cast their vote.
More than 4,000 councillors in 146 councils are standing for elections in major English cities, including Manchester and Leeds, while all of London’s 32 boroughs are up for grabs.
All of Scotland’s 32 councils and all 22 in Wales are also holding elections, with polls due to close at 10pm.
Although some polling stations allow dogs inside providing they abide by the rules, others ask owners to leave them outside while they mark their X on the polling card.
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To keep dogs safe during local election day, the Blue Cross is urging owners to keep their dog's wellbeing in mind, as leaving them unattended could put them at risk.
A spokesperson told The Mirror: "We’d advise people against leaving their dogs tied up outside the polling station as this makes them a tempting target for thieves, and also not to leave their dogs in their car – especially with today’s temperatures due to be high as this could pose a risk to their pet’s health."
If you're planning on heading inside with your dog, it is advised you reframe from taking a picture with them inside the polling booth.
The #dogsatpollingstations trend, which has taken over social media in recent years, could land owners with a £5,000 fine or jail time.
A Blue Cross statement reads: "It is against the law to communicate information about how someone has voted, is about to vote, or to communicate the unique ID ballot paper number; all things that may end up in the frame if you’re snapping away with booths in the background.
"Plus, the Electoral Commission has issued guidance to officials suggesting taking photographs should not be allowed inside polling stations at all."
How do I vote in local elections?
To vote in local elections, you must first make sure you are registered to vote before deciding whether to vote in person, via another person, or by post.
If you are voting in person, you will be sent a polling card telling you when to vote and at which polling station. You can vote between 7am and 10pm on the day of the election, but you must vote at the address given on the card.
Simply give your name and address to the staff inside, and you'll be given a ballot paper containing a list of people to vote for.
To vote by post, you must apply beforehand and the deadline to do this for May 5 has passed. Your vote must reach the local polling station by 10pm on election day.
Voting through another person, known as voting by proxy, is only allowed if a person is unable to vote as they are away on polling day, have a medical condition, or is on military service. You can apply for an emergency proxy vote until 5pm on the day of the election.
The government said: "Usually, you need to apply for a proxy vote at least 6 working days before election day if you want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales."
You only need to register once, instead of ahead of every election. However, you need to register again if you've changed your name, address or nationality.
The deadline to register to vote in the May 5 elections has now passed, but people can still register for future elections.
To register to vote you must be 16 or over, or 14 and over in Scotland and Wales and you must meet the following criteria:
- a British citizen
- an Irish or EU citizen living in the UK
- a Commonwealth citizen who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
- a citizen of another country living in Scotland or Wales who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
You are eligible to vote if you have registered and are over the age of 18 in England and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, people are eligible to vote in Scottish Parliament and local elections when they are over 16.
For Wales, you must be 18 to vote unless it is for the Welsh Parliament elections, in which a person must be at least 16.
How to find your local polling station
You don't need your polling card to vote, but on it you will see the polling station you have been assigned.
If you are registered to vote, but you don't have your polling card, you can just go straight to the polling station and give them your address.
If you can't find your card, you can use the Where Do I Vote? website to find your local polling station. Simply enter your postcode.
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