The things you're not allowed to do in polling stations - from taking your dog to taking selfies

Voters will take to the polls across England and Wales for the local elections on Thursday.

More than 2,500 council seats will be up for grabs across 107 local authorities in England.

Meanwhile crime commissioners (PCCs) will be elected in all parts of England and Wales except Greater Manchester, London, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. Voters in Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, London, South Yorkshire, the Tees Valley area, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire will be choosing their next regional mayor while three areas are choosing a directly-elected mayor for the first time: Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire (to be known as the East Midlands mayor); North East England; and York & North Yorkshire.

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Polling stations will open from 7am and close at 10pm - and you must attend the address on your poll card in order to vote. However, if you are in a queue to vote at 10pm, the Electoral Commission says you are still allowed to vote.

Meanwhile, new rules ushered in last year mean voters will now need to provide a form of photo ID to vote in person, or have a voter authority certificate.

You don't have to make your way to a polling station if you have cast a postal vote or if you have someone else voting on your behalf, by proxy. Here is a look at all the things you can't do in a polling station - from taking selfies, to discussing politics.

Take your dog

We all love a scroll through the adorable #DogsAtPollingStations hashtag every year. However animals aren't usually allowed at polling stations - with the exception of assistance dogs.

It's down to the discretion of each local authority whether to let dogs in or not. The Blue Cross advised owners either to leave dogs at home, or bring someone along with you who can wait outside with your dog while you vote.

Vote without a valid form of ID or a card

Voters now need to show a valid form of photo ID when voting at polling stations in elections. The name on your photo ID should be the same name you used to register to vote. While your photo ID can be out of date, it must clearly look like you.

Passports, driving licences and a Blue badge are among the acceptable forms of photo ID. If you do not have photo ID, you must have applied for a a free ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ by 5pm on April 25.

Wear political slogans

Under voting rules, you cannot wear political slogans when you are voting. You won't be allowed into the polling station if you do. And you must not seek to influence or intimidate other voters in the polling stations.

Vote with friends and family

You can only vote on your own - it is not a time to take friends and family into the polling booth. This is a strict rule to maintain a secret ballot. You can't bring pets into polling stations either, although they can wait outside.

While you can walk to the polling station with your friends or family members you cannot all go into the voting booth itself. Exceptions are made for people with disabilities, who can be accompanied by the presiding officer, or by a helper.

Spoil the ballot paper

Doodling on the ballot paper is not allowed as the vote could be counted as "spoiled" and will not count. You must also never sign your name at the bottom as the vote will be invalidated -as the vote is anonymous.

And you cannot start a political discussion while in the polling station. It's actually a criminal offence to ask someone how they are going to vote - as it could be seen as trying to influence them.

Take a selfie

While it may be tempting to capture the moment you cast your vote with a selfie, you must resist the urge to do this. Photography is not allowed as you may accidentally reveal how you've voted - or how someone standing nearby has voted.

If a picture that links you to your ballot is discovered, your vote may not count.