Image source, Reuters

Unable to vote because you have Covid-19? There's a plan in place across much of the UK.

In England, Scotland, and Wales, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote which will let someone else to cast a ballot for you.

But you'll need to contact your local council, external by 17:00 BST to do so.

The deadline for routine proxy votes has already passed.

Northern Ireland does not have such a system - voters are asked to still make a trip to their polling station even if they have Covid.

Those voting in person may see some public health measures in place at their station.

Image source, Getty Images

As the UK goes to the polls today, there's assistance available for voters with disabilities.

Polling stations - which tend to be inside public buildings like schools and churches - are selected for accessibility. Each one should have an ramp for entry and exit, or a separate entrance. Inside, every station has a wheelchair-accessible polling booth.

But if a voter cannot enter, the presiding officer may take the ballot paper to them.

The officer can also mark the paper for you if asked. Alternatively, a close adult family member or someone else who's eligible to vote in the election - like a support worker - can accompany you.

Visually impaired voters can request a device that lets them mark their own ballot paper. A large-print version of the paper should also be available.

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Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross has been out to vote today with his wife Krystle and their two sons.

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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has also been voting. His wife Furheen went with him to their polling station.

The Scottish Greens' co-leader Patrick Harvie cycled to his local polling station.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton cast his ballot in Edinburgh, stopping briefly to give the camera a wave.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, voted in Glasgow this morning (see our post at 10:28).

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Adrian Ramsay, who shares the leadership of the Green Party in England and Wales with co-leader Carla Denyer, has been to vote at a polling station in Norwich.

Churches, schools and community centres may be classic polling station spots, but what happens if none are to hand? Let's take a look.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

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Image source, Getty Images

Some of you have been searching for an answer to this question.

Unlike in some countries, such as Australia, voting in the UK is not mandatory.

However, you could potentially be fined if you're asked to register to vote but fail to do so.

Abstaining from voting means you won't have any direct influence over the outcome of an election.

Declining to participate altogether also means a lower voter turnout is recorded - which is generally seen as bad news for democracy.

Image source, Getty Images

The answer is yes - as long as you're registered to vote, and are:

• Aged 18 or older in England or Northern Ireland
• Aged 16 or older in Scotland or Wales

As well as British citizens, people from EU or Commonwealth countries who are resident in the UK can vote in England and Northern Ireland.

In Scotland and Wales, any foreign citizen living legally in the country can vote.

The (relatively recent) election day tradition of photographing dogs at polling stations has been loyally followed again.

With voters in many parts of the UK taking part in elections, some canine companions have joined their owners for a moment in the spotlight.

Click here for a pictorial presentation of pooches partnering their polling people.

Image source, MEGAN CLARKE / TWITTER

Image source, RICHARD PARNHAM / TWITTER

Image source, BARRY EPOCH / TWITTER

Image source, Reuters

With just over nine hours left of polling, here's a little recap of what's happening today.

• Millions of people are heading to the polls across the UK
• Local elections are under way in England, Scotland and Wales
• All council seats in Scotland and Wales are being contested, and more than 4,000 are up for grabs in England - including all seats in London's authorities
• In Northern Ireland, people are electing a new assembly at Stormont
• Party leaders across the UK have been pictured out and about casting their own votes
• Owners are once again snapping their dogs at polling stations when they head out to vote - a modern social media phenomenon
• The BBC is restricted in what it can report on election day, but we will bring you results and reaction right after polls close at 22:00 tonight

Image source, EPA

This is a query some people have been looking up on the internet today.

Anyone voting in the elections needs to have registered beforehand.

As for who can register - that depends on where you are in the UK.

England and Northern Ireland allow people from EU or Commonwealth countries who are resident in the UK to vote, as well as British citizens themselves.

In addition to the groups listed above, any foreign citizen living legally in either Scotland or Wales can vote. That may include refugees.

Voters must be aged 18 or over in England and Northern Ireland, or 16 and over in Scotland and Wales.

Image source, Getty Images

Across much of the UK, things are straightforward today.

You'll be able to vote in Northern Ireland, if you're registered, because all 90 seats of the Northern Ireland Assembly are up for grabs.

Similarly, all seats are being contested across Scotland's 32 councils, and Wales' 22 local authorities.

But in England, things are a bit more complicated.

Every council seat is up for election in London, for example.

But other authorities are on different electoral cycles, - and for some 2022 isn't an election year so you might find there's no local contest to vote in.

It may also be that there is no election for your area (called wards) within the council.

Why? Well, many local authorities don't elect all their councillors in one go. They may use a system of "thirds" - where only one in three seats is contested at an election each year.

The government website has more information on this, external.

Confused? Why not use our postcode-checking tool to see if there's an election happening where you are.

Image source, Reuters

If you're voting in person today, you'll need to have registered to do so in advance.

It's then a simple case of heading to your local polling station. Voters in Northern Ireland are also asked to take ID with them.

If you're a first-timer or want a reminder, here's what happens inside:

• When you enter you will be given a ballot paper. This will have a list of the candidates standing in the election you are able to vote in
• Have a careful read of the instructions. In some elections you can choose more than one candidate or rank them in order of preference
• Take the paper to a booth and mark your vote in private. You will be asked to fold the ballot paper and put it in the ballot box
• You are not allowed to discuss your vote in the polling station
• You're also advised not to take selfies because you could accidentally give away how someone else voted (the person in the booth next to you, for example), which is illegal

Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar plays a detective in TV series Unforgotten, and it seems he's in need of some help today in tracking down a polling station.

Fortunately he has more than 112,000 Twitter followers to call on...

Image source, PA Images

The polls are open for a little under 11 hours, and you can use our postcode-checker to find out whether there is an election in your area.

Each one of Scotland's 32 councils and Wales' 22 local authorities are being contested today, as are all 90 seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Not every local authority seat is up for election in England - although more than 4,000 councillors will be elected across the country.

Like other broadcasters in the UK, we're not allowed to report details of campaigning or election issues while polls are open today.

It's a legal requirement to ensure fairness between candidates - something that's especially important on election day itself.

That's why we're limited to giving you information about the voting process - and other factual matters like when political leaders themselves vote.

However, that doesn't mean we have to take down our previous content about the parties and their policies.

Normal service will resume after polls close at 22:00 BST, when we'll start bringing you results and reaction.

Image source, Reuters

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party, has voted in Glasgow this morning.

She was accompanied by her husband Peter Murrell, the SNP's chief executive.

The couple were pictured outside a polling station.

Image source, PA Images

Image source, PA Images

Liberal Democrat Sir Ed Davey has become the latest party leader to be pictured as he stepped out to vote in London.

He was pictured at a polling station in the south-west of the capital.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria have been out to cast their votes in north London.

The couple arrived at the community hall polling station shortly around 09:30 and were inside for about two minutes.

Image source, Reuters

As voters head to their polls, so are their canine companions.

Social media users have unleashed their first photos of dogs at polling stations - a trend that's been a highlight of recent polling days.

Electoral guidelines state that dogs are allowed to come and watch the voting process so long as they don't prove disruptive.

But you're advised to avoid taking photos inside a polling station.

Here's are some of the paw-some snaps we've seen so far.

Here's a ruff guide from animal welfare charity Blue Cross, external so you know what's paw-sible.

Dogs are allowed to come and watch the process as long as they don't disrupt the vote.

Previous guidance from the Electoral Commission says dogs can enter polling stations in an “accompanying” role but they aren't allowed to be “free-range” inside or to disrupt the vote.

Where a voter has two or more dogs and keeping control of them may be tricky, polling station staff may hold the dogs’ leads.

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Can I take a photo of my dog inside the polling station?

Electoral Commission guidance does not advise taking photographs inside polling stations.

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 these things may end up in your photo, which could lead to you getting a hefty fine or even time in jail.

How about other pets?

No guidance has been issued by the Electoral Commission on any other animals, so it’s best to ask polling station staff if you wish to bring a different pet with you.

Does my dog get a vote?

Sadly not. You're barking up the wrong tree there.