Some dogs clearly don’t like being made to wait at polling stations

Bad boy vs good boy (Picture: Twitter)

There might be some very important local elections going on today, but let’s be honest, we only care about adorable dogs at polling stations.

With votes being cast in 248 English councils outside London, and 11 local authority areas in Northern Ireland, people lined up to cast their votes, and brought their four-legged friends along for the ride.

The hashtag #DogsAtPollingStations took off again on Twitter, following what has now become a tradition on election days.

Holly Nicholson, from Lancashire, who has owned her dog for a year, said: ‘I like to get her out and about as much as possible. As a young woman I think it’s so important to have your say and get your vote in.’

METRO GRAB TWITTER Dogs at Polling Stations, UK elections https://twitter.com/poodlemixworld/status/1123844783099842560
Big cutie alert (Picture: poodlemixworld/Twitter)
METRO GRAB TWITTER Dogs at Polling Stations, UK elections https://twitter.com/BuddyPortsmouth/status/1123832610332053504
We would vote for you (Picture: BuddyPortsmouth/Twitter)
SKELTON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 02: A dog is tethered to a railing as it waits outside a polling station for its owner during local elections on May 02, 2019 in Skelton, United Kingdom. Elections are being held in 248 councils across England and Northern Ireland today. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Whippets are very interested in paw-litics (Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Handout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of Serafina Pekkala of her dog at a polling station for local elections. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday May 2, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Elections Dogs. Photo credit should read: Serafina Pekkala/Twitter/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
He’s here to vote and melt hearts too (Picture: Serafina Pekkala/Twitter/PA)

The hashtag has been popular for several years, with people often choosing to combine walking their dog with casting their vote.

However, dogs may not be allowed in buildings being used as polling stations, and, if they are, they must be kept on a lead at all times.

Louise Timlin, a WEP candidate for Evendons ward in Wokingham, Berkshire, joined in with the hashtag using a slightly different animal.

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She created a new trend, #HamstersAtPolling station, saying: ‘When you don’t have a #DogsAtPollingStations.’

METRO GRAB TWITTER Dogs at Polling Stations, UK elections https://twitter.com/singinghinnies/status/1123869365357694978
Politics is a natural laxative (Picture: singinghinnies/Twitter)
Handout photo taken with permission from the Twitter feed of Holly Nicholson of her dog Popster at a polling station for local elections in Lancashire. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday May 2, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Elections Dogs. Photo credit should read: Holly Nicholson/Twitter/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Just chilling at the ‘paw-ling station’ (Picture: PA)
SKELTON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 02: A man stands with his dog outside a polling station during local elections on May 02, 2019 in Skelton, United Kingdom. Elections are being held in 248 councils across England and Northern Ireland today. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Democracy and dogs is a perfect combo (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
METRO GRAB TWITTER Dogs at Polling Stations, UK elections https://twitter.com/Geestar86/status/1123873640158781441
We saved the fluffiest till last (Picture: Geestar86/Twitter)

Politicians also welcomed the hashtag, which crops up at almost every UK election.

Labour MP Jess Phillips said: ‘A steady stream of these today if you don’t mind. We don’t have local elections in Birmingham so I feel excluded.’

Polls opened at 7am on May 2 and will close at 10pm.

Counting will take place overnight in about 120 areas but will be carried out during the following day in others, with the last result not expected until about 9pm on Friday.

Nearly 60% of the 8,425 seats up for grabs in England are currently Conservative, with a quarter held by Labour.