The nation is gripped by voting fever today as people head to the polls to vote for the next Mayor of London – as well as in local elections across the country.

Millions of people across the country will go to their local polling stations in the first elections since 2019 – with folks voting for English local councils, Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Senedd, as well as the London Assembly.

But as they do, there are a few rules that people break at every election and one or two myths around what you’re allowed to do in the voting booth.

We hope to be able to clear them up so that your vote counts.

Can I take a selfie?

It isn’t actually against the law to take a selfie at a polling station, but it is strongly discouraged in or near a voting booth.

The penalty for revealing how someone else voted (even if you didn’t mean it) is up to six months in prison or a £5,000 fine.

It’s illegal to share a picture of a ballot paper under the Section 66 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, including your own.

Advice from the Electoral Commission says: ‘Due to the potential breach of the law, intentionally or not, we strongly advise against any form of photography taken inside a polling station.

‘However, if a voter would like to highlight their participation in the elections, we suggest this is done outside the polling station before or after they vote.’

Can I take my dog to vote?

Bringing your pet as you cast your vote has become a massive trend in recent years.

Every election our hearts are warmed with social media posts showing our four-legged friends witnessing democracy in action.

But they might be asked to wait outside the station like a good boy, particularly if it’s busy.

And they can’t vote themselves. Obviously.

If you have a service dog, they will be allowed into the booth with you.

Showing up drunk

It isn’t against the law to get absolutely steaming before casting your ballot but it isn’t encouraged either.

Staff can’t turn you away just because it looks like you’ve been drinking but they could ask you to come back when you’ve sobered up if you’re being too rowdy.

If you’re really disruptive, there’s a chance the police could arrest you for being drunk and disorderly, as they would anywhere.

Even if you aren’t under the influence of alcohol or drugs, don’t be loud or make a nuisance of yourself.

Bringing your family

It’s fine to bring your children to the polling station but they shouldn’t touch the ballot paper.

If you have a few young ones with you then staff can keep an eye on them while you cast your vote.

Bringing you entire extended family could be seen as a bit weird but there’s no rule against it.

Large groups of any kind could be asked to wait outside if there’s a risk of disturbing voters.

Make it clear who you’re voting for

It’d be a shame if your vote didn’t count because you’d marked the paper in the wrong way.

You can put a tick, cross, or colour in the box, as long as it is clear who you’re voting for and don’t try and chose multiple candidates.

Don’t sign your name or write anything else on the paper – just stick to the choice in front of you.

If you make a mistake and accidentally vote for the wrong person, go to the desk and explain what happened to staff, who will be able to cancel your ballot and give you a new one.

Some people chose to deliberately spoil their ballot to express their frustration with the political system.

Protesters have been known to tick every box, write all over the ballot paper, and, of course, draw a penis on it.

Just make sure the genitalia isn’t only marked in a single box or you might end up voting for someone you don’t want.

Can I use my own pen?

There were rumours and conspiracies during the Brexit referendum that people’s votes had been rubbed out.

This would have been a difficult plot to orchestrate and of course it wasn’t true, but that didn’t stop some people standing outside polling stations handing out pens in June 2016.

It’s completely fine to bring your own pens or pencils, as long as you can clearly indicate who you’re voting for.

The reason why pencils are provided at polling stations is because ink from a pen can smudge or spill on the paper and risk spoiling a ballot.

Ink might spread when the ballot is folded making it look like someone has voted more than once.

Dismissing fraud fears, the Electoral Commission said: ‘The use of pencils does not in itself increase the likelihood of electoral fraud.

‘Legislation has built specific safeguards into the process, such as the requirement for seals to be attached to ballot boxes at the close of poll.

‘By law, campaigners are also entitled to be present at that stage and to attach their own seals if they wish.

‘At the start of the count, they can then observe those same seals being broken.

‘Tampering with ballot papers is a serious offence and if anyone has evidence that ballot papers are being tampered with, they should report this to the police.’

Bringing a friend into the polling booth

Voting is seen as a private thing and you should do it on your own if you’re able to.

If you cannot read the ballot paper or have a disability then a friend or family member may be allowed to help you.

The Electoral Commission advises staff talk directly to the voter about this rather than the helper.

Covering your face

Polling station staff will be looking out for people trying to impersonate someone else on the register to vote twice.

But there’s no specific rule for voters to show their face and they don’t need to bring proof of ID.

Can I wear clothes with a political message?

Voters aren’t allowed to wear clothing promoting a particular party, like t-shirts with campaign slogans on them.

Clearly showing your political allegiance could get you turned away from the polling station, as could talking loudly about politics.

Staff want to make no one is pressured into changing their votes and that everyone feels free to make up their own minds.

But there are no rules against wearing a party’s colours, so go ahead if that’s how you want to show your support.

You might see party officials outside the station. They can be there but they have to wear a rosette to make it clear who they are.

They’re not allowed to act in an intimidating fashion, hang around in large groups or try and hand out literature, so tell a member of staff if they do.

Don’t reveal how someone else voted

This is probably the most important rule of them all.

We mentioned this under the rules about taking photos but it’s worth re-iterating.

Even if you didn’t mean to it could land you in jail or with a hefty fine.

Can I say how I’ve voted?

Yes, of course you can.

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