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You've still got just under an hour to return it.

Any polling station will happily accept a postal vote if you've forgotten to return it by post before today.

While the polls are open the BBC, and other broadcasters, cannot report details of campaigning or issues facing voters at this election.

If you're interested, you can read more in our guide to how the BBC reports polling day.

Here's what we can tell you about what's happened today:

• There's an hour left to cast your vote in elections across England, Scotland and Wales
• A by-election is being held in the constituency of Hartlepool to elect a new MP
• Voters are choosing their representatives for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and the London assembly
• 143 local councils in England are holding elections
• Voter will also elect 13 regional mayors, and 39 police and crime commissioners
• Social distancing measures, as well as regular sanitisation of voting booths, are in place at polling stations due to coronavirus

• Due to the need to maintain social distancing in counting venues, the results will take longer than usual to come through, and will be announced from Friday to Monday
• Only a handful of local councils in England, and the votes cast in the Hartlepool by-election, will be counted overnight
• There's no special results programme on the BBC tonight, we're starting our coverage from tomorrow morning.

Today sees a bumper crop of elections as some polls were delayed from last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There are measures to keep people safe in place in polling stations, including:

• Providing more signage, perspex screens, one-way systems and, of course, lots of hand sanitiser
• Encouraging mask-wearing - but you won't be turned away if you don't have one
• Social distancing. there may be queues if space is limited
• Encouraging voters to bring their own pencils - one will be provided to anyone who can't
• Wiping down surfaces.

Yes, really.

Council tax, responsibilities, and the mystery of pineapple on pizza all explained in this short video...

We have another unusual polling station venue to bring you.

In Oxford, people have been able to cast their votes in the Ace Laundrette.

One of the few places where voters don't mind a bit of spin?

Image source, Reuters

There's few hours left before polls close at 22:00 BST.

The BBC has produced comprehensive policy guides, to compare where the parties stand on the key issues.

You can find a round-up of all the parties standing for the Welsh Sened here, along with details of their main policies.

And if you're in Scotland, all the information you need is here.

Among the many votes taking place across Britain today, parish council elections have probably attracted the least attention.

Parish and town councils are the smallest local authorities in the UK.

Their responsibilities vary from place to place but examples include allotments, public toilets, fetes and public clocks.

Approximately 2,000 parish and town councils are holding elections today.

Find out more about what parish councils do here.

The election results will take a little longer to come through than usual, due to requirements to maintain social distancing in the venues where the ballots will be counted.

So this is no all-nighter - the BBC's special coverage will begin on Friday morning.

You can find all the details here.

Everyone involved in organising today's elections has had a lot to contend with: social distancing, the complexities involved in multiple elections and even sanitising pencils...

Comedian Marcus Brigstocke has tweeted his thanks to volunteers and staff as he goes to cast his vote.

A total of around 48 million people across England, Scotland and Wales will be able to vote in today's elections.

Here is a rundown of what is up for grabs:

• Around 5,000 English local election seats, across 143 councils
• 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament
• 60 seats in the Welsh Senedd
• 39 Police and Crime Commissioners
• 25 seats in the London Assembly
• 13 directly-elected mayors
• 1 MP will be elected in the Hartlepool by-election

Use our postcode checker to get all the details in your area.

It's now an election day tradition - pictures of dogs at polling stations posted by their proud owners.

YouGov has paw-sed political polling to post its own pooch poll.

And you can see a bumper selection of images of pets outside polling stations here.

Polls will be closing at 22:00 BST.

So how do you go about voting?

If you've got a vote you should have received a polling card in the post.

It's got your polling number and the address for where you cast your vote - your polling station.

You don't have to take your polling card when you vote, but it can speed the process up.

You can read more about dos and don'ts in polling stations here.

With some town halls and libraries closed because of the pandemic, councils have had to be creative about where they've put their ballot boxes.

Some have turned to still-shuttered pubs, but others have found more unusual venues.

Image source, PA Media

In Sunderland, voters found themselves in the tearoom at local Fulwell windmill.

And in Scotland, voters in Edinburgh headed to a golf course.

Image source, PA Media

The BBC, like other broadcasters, is not allowed to report details of campaigning or election issues while the polls are open.

On the big day, the BBC does not report on any of the campaigns from 00:30 BST until polls close at 22:00 BST on TV, radio, bbc.co.uk, or on social media and other channels.

However, online sites do not have to remove existing reports. The lists of candidates and the guide to parties' policies remain available online during polling day.

Coverage of what is happening on the day is usually restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts, such as the appearance of politicians at polling stations, or the weather.

And, of course, pets!

You can read more about the rules here.

Canada geese and their goslings turned up at a London polling station earlier

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

If you're voting and have accessibility requirements, your polling stations should be accommodating.

Here's a rundown from the Electoral Commission on what to expect:

• Each polling station should have a ramp or a separate entrance, so everyone can access it
• If you experience problems when getting into your polling station, a member of staff can come to assist you, and bring your ballot paper to you, if that is helpful
• There should be a wheelchair accessible polling booth in every polling station
• If you have a visual impairment and need help to mark your ballot paper, you can ask the polling station staff for a large print sample
• You can ask for a voting device which will help you mark your ballot paper. Staff will explain how this works
• You can take your assistance dog to the polling station with you.

And, of course, you can ask polling station staff if you have any questions.

Dogs have been out in force on polling day. And we've seen some lovely pictures from proud owners/voters.

It is a double celebration for one year old Harry, decked out in his birthday finery and at a polling station for the first time.

Keep tagging us in your pictures on social media @BBCPolitics, external

Image source, Anna Skipworth/@hellosocialLdn

Image source, thespeer