Chris Mason
Political editor

The polls have closed and a marathon stint of counting and results beckons.

First things first: yes this is election night. But when you wake up in the morning — assuming you are going to sleep — the results will only be partial.

It’s not like a general election, where there’s an exit poll at 10pm and by breakfast time the result is clear and the counting is pretty much finished.

Most of the counting is happening during the day on Friday. And, as an added bonus, there will even be some counting on Saturday!

The counting happening in the coming hours is exclusively in England. Counting for the Senedd and Holyrood elections begins in the morning.

As for what to watch out for overnight? I'll cover that in my next post.

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

The BBC and other broadcasters are limited on what we can report while people are still voting.

But once polls close at 22:00, our coverage will turn to the counts as results start coming in. Here's what you can expect from our coverage overnight.

From 23:00, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live will join forces for an overnight results programme, co-presented by Nick Robinson and Rachel Burden.

From 23:10 on BBC One, Laura Kuenssberg be hosting a special programme, alongside analysis from polling guru Sir John Curtice and number-crunching from Reeta Chakrabarti, running through the night.

On Friday morning, Sophie Raworth will take over on BBC One, with Clive Myrie in Cardiff for the Senedd elections and Kirsty Wark in Edinburgh for the Holyrood vote.

And of course - we'll have all the results and analysis right here on this page.

Image source, Getty Images

The government has rolled out flexible voting pilots in four locations in England ahead of today's local elections.

Trials have been taking place in Cambridge, Milton Keynes, North Hertfordshire and Tunbridge Wells, and aim to "modernise the voting process" and improve voter turnout.

The trial is two-fold, testing "voting hubs" - otherwise known as centralised polling stations in busy areas like shopping centres - and early in-person voting.

Voters in Cambridge, North Hertfordshire and Tunbridge Wells have been able to vote early at these centralised hubs.

Those in Milton Keynes are able to use a centralised "on the day" voting hub during normal voting hours today. Voters can choose to vote at either their allocated polling station or the central hub, Milton Keynes City Council says.

Image source, Protected Paws Animal Rescue

For any cat lovers fed up with all the pooch pics in our coverage today, dogs weren't the only pets spotted at polling stations.

A number of kittens accompanied their foster carer, Leigh, to a polling station in Fulham earlier today.

Dogs still appear to have been one of the most popular voting companions, though, including these three - thankfully pictured at a different site in London!

Image source, EPA

Around 5,000 seats across 136 local councils are being contested in England today.

England has a first-past-the-post system, meaning the candidate or candidates with the most votes in each ward win and become councillors.

While some areas will be electing every council seat, in others just some of the total seats are available, and some areas of England will have no local elections at all this year.

It's a big day in London, where votes are being held in all 32 boroughs and a total of 1,817 councillors will be elected.

Six mayoral elections are also taking place today, including in Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham and Tower Hamlets.

The only mayoral election outside London will take place in Watford, where there is currently a Liberal Democrat mayor.

When heading out to cast your vote, you are asked to put a cross in the box against the candidate you wish to vote for.

The Electoral Commission sets out that a tick, or mark other than a cross, will not necessarily void a ballot paper as long as the voter's intention is clear and the voter cannot be identified by any mark or writing.

However, there are a number of ways a ballot paper could be incorrectly filled out and therefore not counted.

According to the Electoral Commission, they include:

• If the ballot paper is unmarked
• If it contains any mark or writing that can identify the voter
• If it does not indicate the voter’s intention with certainty

There's still time if you want to get out and vote. Polling stations close in just over two hours, meaning you've got time after work or dinner.

Although voting officially closes at 22:00, you can vote after this time as long as you were already in the queue at that point.

Here's a list of polling station dos and don'ts if you're heading out to vote this evening.

Image source, PA

As the clock ticks down towards the end of election day, here's a refresher of what's at play:

Voters in Scotland are electing a new national parliament

• All 129 seats in Holyrood - the Scottish Parliament - are up for election

• There are 73 constituency members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), and 56 regional MSPs (that's seven per region)
• Voters get two ballots, one for each race

As are voters in Wales

• Every seat in the Welsh Parliament - the Senedd - will be contested
• The number of members of the Senedd (MSs) is being expanded from 60 to 96, representing 16 newly created constituencies

In England, about 5,000 seats across 136 councils are being contested

• For some councils, every seat will be up for grabs. Others will be electing only some of their representatives today, and other areas will have no elections at all
• Six mayoral contests are also being held - in Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford

Simon King
BBC Weather

Image source, Getty Images

We know the weather can have impacts on our daily lives, what we buy and even the economy.

But is there any firm evidence that the weather makes any difference as to whether people get out to vote?

Looking back to the 2019 general election, which took place in December, there were between six and eight hours of daylight from the Shetland Islands to Penzance, so it was dark for most of the time polling stations were open.

It was a typical December day with rain at times and maximum temperatures ranging from one to eight Celsius across the UK.

It was the coldest polling day since the February 1974 election.

And with total average precipitation across the UK of 25.27mm (0.9 inches), it was also the wettest according to records going back to 1931.

You might think that would be enough to make you want to stay tucked up warm and dry at home.

However, official figures from the House of Commons library show that turnout was 67.3%.

While this was slightly down on the 68.8% turnout for the June 2017 general election, it was the highest turnout in the five others since 2001.

Following our morning selection of pet pics, there have been a number of other dogs who have had their daily walks rerouted today to take in a stop off at a polling station.

Among those is Nina, a dachshund belonging to our BBC North East political reporter Helen Richardson, who can be seen below outside a polling station in North Tyneside.

As a reminder, you can send us your photos too (just don't take any pictures inside the polling stations).

Image source, Helen Richardson/BBC

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA/Shutterstock

Sometimes so-called "tellers" stand outside the polling station and ask voters for the number on their polling card.

They are volunteers who work for candidates. They use the information to check who has voted, so they can remind people who have not yet done so.

They are allowed to ask for your polling card number, but you do not have to give it to them.

While most voters today will be descending on primary schools, churches or community centres, some people have been sent to slightly more interesting locales to mark their ballots.

Across the UK, we've seen golf courses, whimsically-painted cafes and folding caravans all transform into polling stations today.

If you've got an odd polling place, we want to know about it - here's how to send us your pictures.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Pete Sparks

Image source, PA Media

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

We've been keeping across some of the most-searched questions as voters across England, Scotland and Wales head to the polls today.

Where is my polling station?

Your poll card, which is sent to you ahead of an election, tells you where your polling station is.

If you don't have your card, you can contact your electoral registration office, external to find out where to go.

What if I've lost my poll card?

All registered voters get sent a polling card in the post. But don't fret - you can still vote without it. The process might just be a little slower, so leave yourself more time.

What do I need to take with me?

It depends where you are. People voting in Scottish Parliament or Senedd elections don't need ID to vote in person - but everyone voting in person in the local elections in England does.

For more on what to pack, see our earlier post.

When do polling stations close?

They'll be shutting shop at 22:00 BST. But as long as you've joined the queue by this time, you'll still be allowed to vote.

Why are there no local elections in my area?

There will be some parts of England not voting at all today.

That's because the elections in England are local - not national like in Scotland and Wales - and they don't all take place at the same time. Some councils elect all councillors every four years, others elect half every two years, and the rest elect a third of councillors each year for three years - and hold no elections in the fourth year.

Lucy Ashton
BBC Sheffield political reporter

Children who accompany their parents to one Sheffield polling station can take part in their own little vote.

Youngsters can vote for the "sweetie party" or the "biscuit party" - and take the relevant treat from a bowl (at the time of writing, the sweetie party was winning!)

Image source, North Norfolk District Council

Broadcasters, including the BBC, are limited on what they can report on polling day.

As we can't cover details of campaigning or election issues while polls are open, instead we stick to the practicalities around voting. That also gives us the chance to share photos of the various animals we spot accompanying their owners while they vote.

We've seen plenty of dogs already, but we know from experience that more unusual species also head out on polling day.

If you have a picture you would like to share with us, you can get in touch in the following ways.

Remember: don't take pictures inside your local polling station.

• Use this form

• Upload your pictures and video   
• Email: yourvoice@bbc.co.uk, external

 Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy   

In some cases, a selection of your comments and questions may be published, along with your name and location as provided, unless you request otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.   

The BBC, like other broadcasters, is not allowed to report details of campaigning or election issues while polls are open in England, Scotland and Wales on Thursday 7 May.

On polling day, the BBC does not report on any of the election campaigns from 06:00 BST until polls close at 22:00 BST on TV, radio or bbc.co.uk, or on social media and other channels.

However, online sites do not have to remove archived reports, including, for instance, programmes on iPlayer. For Scotland and Wales, the lists of candidates, as well as the manifesto guides, remain available online during polling day.

Coverage of what is happening on the day is usually restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts, such as the appearance of politicians at polling stations, or the weather.

• Read more from Ric Bailey, the BBC's chief adviser of politics

We've been quizzing you on your election day knowledge throughout the day - here's your fourth question.

You can see questions one, two and three by clicking the links.

Today, almost 5,000 seats up across around 136 councils are up for grabs in parts of England today.

The councillors who are elected are responsible for representing their local area, providing community leadership and voting on decisions in meetings.

It's also worth noting that councillors are not paid a salary. Instead, they receive an allowance to cover costs such as childcare and travel, with many working another job alongside their council role.

Watch below to find out more on what different local councils do.

Image source, Getty Images

Some election enthusiasts like to pull an all-nighter as the results trickle in - but counting in many areas won't take place until the day after polls close during these elections.

This includes the counting for the Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections. Some local seats in England will be counted overnight - but not all.

It means that for those of us not staying up all night, it's unlikely that we'll wake up on Friday to the full picture from today's polls.

The decisions for the Scotland and Wales vote counts were announced last year. The Electoral Management Board for Scotland said the measure would reduce costs. Both the Scottish and the Welsh boards also said it would increase public engagement and ensure staff were well rested.

But is this a new method?

In Scotland, counting has traditionally been done overnight, however a daytime count was also held at the last Holyrood election in 2021 due to Covid restrictions.

In Wales, daytime counts have become common, with votes for the 2021 Senedd election and 2022 local government elections being counted during the day.

Scotland's main party leaders have been spotted out voting today in the Holyrood election. SNP leader John Swinney, who is hoping to remain as first minister, voted in his Perthshire North constituency.

Reform's Malcolm Offord and Alex Cole-Hamilton for the Lib Dems both voted in Edinburgh. Labour's Anas Sarwar, Conservative Russell Findlay and Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens were at polling stations in the Glasgow area.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media