The political Yorkshire pooches who showed their support on polling day

Yorkshire residents turned out in their droves yesterday to cast their votes in the local elections.

The election was held in order to select the representatives on the local council who deal with a variety of issues which affect the community, from education services, local transport and leisure facilities, to social services, council housing and local planning.

Seats on 150 councils were up for grabs in this year's election, with the majority of these last up for public vote in 2014 when Labour won seats for more than 300 councillors.

A good turn out for Yorkshire

In keeping with tradition, polling day was held once again on a Thursday.

Numerous theories have been attributed to the origins of this tradition, with one theory suggesting it arose because people did not usually receive their pay packets until a Friday and as such, holding polls the day before avoided the risk they would be too drunk to cast their vote.

Other theories suggest it was to keep the election as far away after a Sunday as possible in an effort to avoid the influence of Sunday sermons, while the typical holding of town markets on a Thursday meant that the majority of folk would be out and about, and more likely to make the effort to vote.

But here in Yorkshire it could be argued the day of the week had little influence on voters turning out, as attendance at the polls wasn't in short supply - and even a few political pooches came along to show their support.

Here are just a few of the local pups who got in on the political action.

Bruce has placed his vote. #DogsAtPollingStations #BruceCawthorn pic.twitter.com/u1UtnJwVhG

— Joe Cawthorn (@josephcawthorn) May 3, 2018

Jake the Welsh Terrier's first taste of democracy #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/qfWuIis3Ky

— Mark Butler (@MarkPButler) May 3, 2018

many democracy#dogsatpollingstation #shibainu #yorkshire #leeds pic.twitter.com/OtLdQZAxIV

— Ryan Spence (@ryandroid_) May 3, 2018

#DogsAtPollingStations #IVoted #LocalElections #ToriesOut #PoliticalPuppies #DogsThatVote #BeautifulBruce #Brucey #Yorkshire #StaffordshireBullTerrier #StaffiesOfInstagram #Staffygram #NorthYorkshire #Ripon #Staffy https://t.co/wYrRUSgZmH pic.twitter.com/RLykXIoYeL

— Jess ⚡ (@Alright_Blondie) May 3, 2018

Polling Stations are open across many councils in the Region today with voters in Sheffield choosing a South Yorkshire Mayor. #LocalElection2018#Southyorkshire#suffragettes#pollingstation#1918Women#dogsatpollingstationspic.twitter.com/elKMEMGf9p

— Yorkshire Network (@Yorkshire_EN) May 3, 2018

A post shared by Ben Ogden (@timo_legend) on Jun 8, 2017 at 11:27am PDT

#dogsatpollingstations Holly the Schnauzer in West Yorkshire pic.twitter.com/YusjEaa1Eo

— Deborah Tullett (@DeborahTullett) June 8, 2017

I’ve just been to vote @UKLabour with my family @TracyBrabin @HollyLynch5 @DT_Leeds @PetsForLabour #DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/wNkOC14Pkq

— Rachael (@bubba1175) May 3, 2018

#dogsatpollingstations and me a woman from Leeds who has the freedom and opportunity to vote. Always feel honoured and take a moment to remember those who made their mark before me @LeedsWomen2018 pic.twitter.com/NGR7quA58c

— Sally Hilton (@SallyHilton) May 3, 2018

A vote to save Sheffield’s street trees 🌳 #dogsatpollingstations #SaveSheffTrees #sheffieldissuper #itsourcity #sheffield pic.twitter.com/7UDiGd55Md

— Anne Goodenough (@Anne_Goodenough) May 3, 2018

Reporting from #LocalElections2018 #Harrogate #Tockwith #DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/D42Lw6ZR7P

— Dame Chloe ArcherPuds (@ourChloePup) May 3, 2018

I don't have a dog :( - but this floppy bundle of fluff is voting Yorkshire Party all the same! #DogsAtPollingStations #LocalElections2018 #LE2018 pic.twitter.com/Uw71YRddFI

— Jack P. Carrington #MVM (@JackPCarrington) May 3, 2018