Many Britons take their dogs, snakes, turtles, and even horses to polling stations—a tradition deeply ingrained in the country’s election day culture.
On July 4th, millions of British voters began casting their ballots for the parliamentary elections, and a significant number brought their pets along to the polling stations. The hashtag #Dogsatpollingstations has become a familiar sight on social media whenever the UK holds elections.
Animal-loving voters in the UK frequently bring their pets, with dogs and cats being the most common companions. However, more exotic pets like parrots, turtles, and ferrets also make an appearance at these voting venues.
This election has seen British voters usher in a new political era by propelling Labour candidates to a parliamentary majority, thereby enabling the formation of a new government and ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Observers attribute this shift to voters’ frustration with soaring living costs and internal strife within the Conservative Party, which significantly contributed to their defeat.
According to VOX, the trend of taking pets to polling stations gained traction in the UK following the 2016 Brexit referendum.
In 2019, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson also embraced this activity by bringing his beloved dog, Dilyn, to a polling station in London. He later shared posts with the hashtag #Dogsatpollingstations on social media, adding to the movement’s popularity.
