Local elections 2026: Dogs steal the show at polling stations in amazing pictures

We love Rory: Pictured waiting next to a sign outside the polling station at St James Church hall in Inverleith, Edinburgh (Image:Getty)Local elections 2026: Dogs steal the show at polling stations in amazing picturesWe've got wacky polling stations like the caravan and portakabin, plenty of dogs and political leaders casting their vote in our gallery covering the whole of the UKByJohnny GoldsmithPicture Editor10:47, 7 May 2026Updated10:53, 7 May 2026Voting is underway in the largest set of elections in the UK since 2024. The polls opened at 7am across England, Scotland and Wales and here we have rounded up the best images from up and down the country. We’ve got wacky polling stations like the caravan in Duxford and the portakabin in Neve, political leaders casting their vote and of course plenty of dogs. A total of 5,013 councillors will be elected with elections being held for 134 of the country's 317 councils. These include 32 London boroughs, six county councils and six unitary authorities, including the newly-created East Surrey and West Surrey. 1 of 13A dog waits by a polling station as voters in Hartlepool head to the polls during the local elections in Hartlepool (Image:Getty Images)2 of 13A dog waits outside Pollokshields polling station in Glasgow (Image:Getty Images)3 of 13A caravan which is being used as a polling station opens up for voters in Duxford, Cambridgeshire (Image:Joe Giddens/PA Wire)4 of 13The Portakabin: Voters queue at a polling station in Walton on the Naze (Image:AP)5 of 13The first leader pictured voting was Keir Starmer at Westminster Chapel in central London. (Image:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)6 of 13Alongside the Labour leader was his wife Lady Victoria Starmer (Image:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)7 of 13Remember to bring you ID: A worker prepares a sign reminding voters (Image:AP)8 of 13More dogs now: This one was pictured waiting outside a polling station in Wimbledon (Image:Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock)9 of 13And this dog stopped for a picture after it's owner had voted in at the City Hall in St Davids, Wales (Image:Getty Images)10 of 13Reform leader Nigel Farage arrives to cast his vote (Image:Getty Images)11 of 13Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar poses for photos with his wife Furheen Ashrif and their children (Image:Getty Images)12 of 13Welsh First Minister and Labour Leader Eluned Morgan departs after casting her vote (Image:Getty Images)13 of 13Scotland's First Minister SNP leader John Swinney waves with wife Elizabeth after casting his vote (Image:AFP via Getty Images)FollowMirrorFacebookX (Twitter)MORE ONLocal elections