Election 2026: Dogs at polling booths

I'm posting these dogs in the order they're received so I guess all the poodle crosses are voting right now. Peggy the border collie poodle cross headed along to Seatoun School in Wellington to do her bit.

Ollie's owners gave no further information but when you have that wide stance, who needs words?

"Cosmo is our foster fail, after fostering 10 dogs (and 30 cats and rabbits) he won out and we couldn’t let him go." One could argue Cosmo made a strong argument for his owners' vote (undying love). Two ticks Cosmo.

Separately, I'm a big fan of Cosmo's general shape. Really nice.

Sometimes dogs have bad jobs, too. Tui here has been retired from racing for two years "and now lives a life of luxury by the sea". I'm so happy for you, Tui!

"Dewey did his democratic doodleduty this morning in beautiful Carterton, Wairarapa." – Dewey's owner.

"I don't like the word 'doodleduty'." – Me.

Lulu has been "following the Mt Albert race closely", and at a stately 11 years old, she has historical knowledge of the seat (I assume). Wonder who she's backing?

Now this is my type of dog. Bow is a labrador cross in Northland, Wellington who has just run his 25th Parkrun. Better you than me, Bow. It's doing wonders for your coat.

Rory is a pound rescue ("believe it or not," says her owner) who is "mostly Maltese". She's named Rory because, despite her sweet looks, she grrrsss and roars when her toys are taken. They voted in Whaaingaroa Raglan.

An Italian greyhound in a little outfit? Always a blessed day. Mason is "all about snuggles, zoomies and being the centre of attention". With that fit? He would've gotten all three while doing his bit for democracy.

This is Baxter, a beautiful Irish setter, voting in Nelson in 2020. Baxter's owner sent in a photo to commemorate him as he sadly died last month, aged 11, "so won’t make it to the polls this year".

This is Gus's third election and he accompanied his owner to advance vote in Grey Lynn. I would attend a lecture from Gus on the integrity of MMP and overhang engineering.

This smiley rescue is "the most laid back and good-natured boy who loves being out with people!" That sign, however, is not people, and he wouldn't go any closer. Fair enough.

I read that Tūī was a "border collie/golden retriever split vote (50:50 mix)" and could not wait to see what she looked like. Guess what, the border collie really jumped out. What a gorgeous young pup (only eight months old) patiently waiting for her owner to vote in Murihiku Southland so she can find a puddle in which to lay down.

Just look at her, she can't keep her eyes of it. She also loves smelling the roses at Hamilton Gardens and visits to Sumin our favourite barista at Cafe Kopi.

So say's Biddy's owner in Newtown. One can only assume that Biddy is celebrating (libertarianally) the freedom of her fellow greyhounds from the racing industry.

Meet Bunty. They (pronouns were not forthcoming from Bunty's owner) are a West Highland White Terrier and have "won prizes for the Naughtiest and Most Entertaining at Halswell Small Dogs walking group".

This Cavalier x Lowchen pooch named Mochi has been blessed (cursed?) with an eerily human face. So human she could probably vote in her hometown of Petone once she turns 18.

"The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters." That's a quote from Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci. Or is it a quote from this Maltese/Bichon also named Gramsci?

Yes, that's a trilingual headline, are you impressed? I would wager not nearly as impressed as you are by this charming pup, a 13-week-old basset fauve de Bretagne. Our very first South Island pooch, she voted at Fendalton Community Centre in the Ilam electorate with two humans who have been censored on account of not being dogs.

"Harley is a sweet and mischievous dog who will go to the ends of the earth for any crumbs of food. She had to be bribed to take this photo!" This noble red golden retriever (didn't know that was a thing, I want one) voted at North Shore Rugby Club in Devonport (up the Pride!)

Westley and Zelda, a delightful duo of dachshunds, braved the drizzle to vote in Newtown (Wellington Bays is punching above its weight in terms of dogs-at-polling-booths representation thus far.)

Either that or the salmon treat being held above the camera, says Olive's owner. This "bundle of joy" is a one-year-old black labrador who voted in Island Bay in the newly named Wellington Bays electorate.

Baxter is partial to popcorn, says his owner, so it's apt that the mini-schnauzer-cross voted in The Spinoff's home electorate, which garnered a five-popcorn-bucket rating in Joel MacManus's ranking of the most exciting seats.

Darwin is a 14-year-old (impressive!) staffy-English-bull-terrier cross whom his owner describes as a "cuddle bucket who loves to do his civic duty by providing licks and snuggles". He advance voted at Ngaio Library in the Wellington North electorate. Good on you, Darwin.