Paws before you vote

摘要

Diary has covered and uncovered numerous instances of gerrymandering, electoral rigmarole and poll booth chicanery in its time. But recent incidents in Stockton-on-Tees have really taken the dog biscuit. Stockton BC has accused Russell Hoyle, a local security guard, of electoral fraud for filling in a poll form on behalf of his nine-year-old rottweiler, Zeus. In his defence, Mr Hoyle claims the canine confusion was the result of a mix up during the 2011 Census, when an official visited seeking household details. He claims he said: 'There is myself and my wife. My son is not old enough to vote.' 'We have got Zeus living here as well and he is 63 in dog years,' Mr Hoyle insists he joked.