I’m sure you’ll all be exercising your democratic right to vote today (Thursday, May 7). To make the trip to the polling station less of a chore, you could combine it with walking your dog.  But do remember that pooch has not yet been given the right to vote!

Dogs  are allowed to accompany you to the polling booth as long as they don’t disrupt the vote. 

Before the 2008 London Mayoral election polling staff were given advice stating that dogs had to be in an “accompanying” role rather than “free-range” or otherwise wandering off the lead, potentially playing havoc with the serious work of the day. 

In cases where a voter has two or more dogs and will struggle to control them while casting their  vote, polling station staff may be able to hold the dogs’ leads. Rural constituencies might have cases of voters riding to the polling station. In such cases, horses and ponies should be tethered up outside. 

There is as yet no guidance on other animals such as cats, rabbits, ferrets or pot-bellied pigs, so any decision will be at the discretion of presiding officers.