As the country heads to the ballot boxes for Northern Ireland's Assembly election on May 5, you may be wondering what you can and can't do in a polling station.
Many people may double up and go vote while out walking their dog, and posting photos of dogs at polling stations has become popular on social media in recent years, but are they allowed inside?
The Electoral Office for NI has confirmed that only assistance dogs are allowed inside polling stations. However, there is no restriction on leaving them outside while you cast your vote.
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Most polling stations are schools and areas that would not normally have animals accessing facilities, so they have said they would rather voters cast their vote, then walked their dog separately.
In the UK, guidance from the Electoral Commission states that some polling stations allow dogs inside as long as you and your dog stick to the rules.
In some polling stations, they added, dogs can enter in an "accompanying" role but aren't allowed to be "free-range" inside or to disrupt the vote.
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