Thursday is decision day, as people across the North East and Cumbria vote in the UK general election.
Venues have been open since 07:00 BST, and anyone eligible can vote as long as you are in the queue before 22:00 BST.
For some, the trip to the polling station doubles up as an opportunity for pets to stretch their legs – and on a day when there are strict reporting restrictions in place for the media, pictures of dogs at polling stations have become a popular distraction.
Here are a few of the dogs whose owners have already exercised their right to vote.
A man who murdered his partner after returning home from a football match has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 19 years.John Higgins, 6
Starmer: 'I won't repeat past failures on building'published at 08:32 British Summer Time08:32 BSTYou talked of policy “trade-offs” in your speech, Robinson
Named player of the tournament at Euro 2024 as he helped Spain lift the trophy, Rodri played a key role in helping City win a fourth consecutive Premier League
Reading have pulled their under-21s out of a newly-created competition by the Premier League in another alarming development at