While voting turnouts are decreasing, it's perhaps a little premature to be boosting the numbers by inviting animals to get involved in the democratic process.
But that's what nearly happened after a dog was sent a voting card, in its name, making it eligible to vote in forthcoming elections. Russell Hoyle, from Norton in Stockton-on-Tees seemingly make a joke during the last census when an official came round to his house, apparently saying, "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."
Consequently, Zeus, a rottweiler received a voting card. While many thought it a hilarious mix-up, council officials were not amused - Hoyle now faces a serious fine, or even jail after being reported for allegedly providing false information to the electoral roll.
A Stockton council spokesman said: "Though we appreciate that registering a dog to vote might seem amusing it is an offence to provide false information on an electoral registration form and we are obliged to refer cases like this to the police."
Hoyle, meanwhile, says, "I am adamant that I didn't fill out the form. This whole thing was just a bit of a joke and now it has gone too far. My family are outraged."
We assume that had Zeus been eligible, he'd have voted for the Lab Dems. Or moved to the Barking constituency.
(Images: Shutterstock)
[via The Guardian]
