Matthew Murray
BBC Wales

The 2021 Senedd election has been the most challenging ever to organise because of the Covid pandemic.

Polling stations and count centres had to be made safe and registering voters became more complex with the inclusion of 16 and 17-year-olds.

Traditional polling stations, like village halls, have often been closed during lockdown. And some councils have had to cope with count halls being turned into vaccination centres or field hospitals.

Many older buildings have also been unsuitable because of poor ventilation.

And social distancing rules mean there will be fewer staff doing the counting, despite a greater number of votes to count.

Read Matthew's account of how councils are dealing with these challenges here.

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

You can read more in our guide to how the BBC reports polling day.

But here's what we can tell you about what's happened so far:

• There are five hours left to cast your vote in elections across England, Scotland and Wales
• Voters are choosing their representatives for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and the London assembly
• A by election is being held in the constituency of Hartlepool to elect a new MP
• 143 local councils in England are holding elections
• Voter will also elect 13 regional mayors, and 39 police and crime commissioners
• Leaders of the biggest political parties have been photographed outside polling stations, although some of them cast their vote by post
• Social distancing measure are in place at polling stations due to coronavirus
• Only a handful of local councils in England, and the votes cast in the Hartlepool by-election, will be counted overnight
• 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.

Dogs traditionally get all the attention on polling days, but our feline friends have also been taking an interest in today's voting.

A printing error has meant some regional ballot papers for the Senedd election across north Wales left out a candidate.

The voting papers for the north Wales list seat in Arfon and Anglesey did not include the name of an independent candidate.

The area's returning officers said voters were being given the chance to vote for the full list at polling stations.

Correct ballot papers are being issued in other parts of the region.

Image source, PA Media

You might see people waiting outside your polling station who ask you for the number on your poll card.

They are volunteers who work on behalf of the local candidates.

They are allowed to ask information to check who has voted, but you don't have to give them any details if you don't want to.

If you have any concerns, a member of staff at the polling station should be able to help.

In a riff on the popular #dogsatpollingstations Twitter trend, people have been sharing their photos of guide dogs helping their owners to the polls.

Image source, Jane Barlow/PA wire

The co-leader of the Scottish Greens, Patrick Harvie, voted earlier in Glasgow.

Voters in England and Wales are electing police and crime commissioners. But what do they actually do?

We explain.

The Labour incumbent, Sadiq Khan, and the Conservative hopeful, Shaun Bailey, have cast their votes in London's mayoral race. Khan took his dog, Luna, with him to the polling station and Bailey was accompanied by his wife Ellie, as they cast their vote.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

If you woke up this morning with coronavirus symptoms, complications from another medical condition, or you are completely tied up at work, then you can apply for an emergency proxy until 5pm today.

A proxy vote allows you to appoint someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf.

You must make an application to your local council's Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm in order for it to be processed.

If you are asking for an emergency proxy for coronavirus symptoms, you do not need a medical note.

Those with complications from long term conditions meaning they cannot now vote in person today will require "medical attestation" according to The Electoral Commission, external. This includes those with mental health conditions who have now been detained under civil powers.

If it's for work reasons, this can only be granted in the event of you being completely unable to get to the polling station at all by 10pm tonight due to unforeseen circumstances.

Am I registered to vote?published at 14:33 British Summer Time 6 May 2021

14:33 BST 6 May 2021

Some of you have been asking how they can check if they are registered to vote.

The deadline has now closed, but if you have registered to vote you will have received a polling card in the post.

If you cannot find it, you can contact your local electoral registration office, external to see if you are registered.

If you have missed the boat this time you can go online to register , externalfor future elections. It takes about 5 minutes and you will need to have your national insurance number to hand.

Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie arrives at Strathpeffer Community Centre. He cast his ballot earlier by post.

Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross with wife Krystle and son Alistair the polling station at Alves Hall.

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

Now they are going ahead with lots of measures in place to keep people safe, 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. You may have to queue a little longer if space is limited
• Encouraging voters to bring their own pencils - one will be provided to anyone who can't
• Wiping down surfaces

Here's what it's like inside one polling station in Newcastle:

Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds cast her ballot at Hay-on-Wye Bowling Club

Leader of Plaid Cymru Adam Price arriving to vote in Pontargothi, Carmarthenshire.

Image source, PA Media

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies gives a thumbs up as he leaves the polling station at Llancarfan village hall, after casting his vote in the Welsh Parliamentary Elections.

Image source, PA Media

Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart arrive to cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart.

Image source, Reuters

Nuns from the Tyburn Convent leave a polling station after casting their vote in elections in London.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey, has been photographed with his wife, Emily Gasson, as they arrived to vote in Surbiton.

Image source, PA Media

Snowy conditions at a polling station for the Scottish Parliamentary election in the village of Farr, near Inverness.

The BBC forecast suggests it's not quite as cold as it looks.