Decision day: Voting underway as Scots decide whether to remain in UK

Thousands of people have already voted in today’s Scottish Referendum to decide whether Scotland remains in the United Kingdom or becomes a fully independent country for the first time in more than 300 years. Polls had the “Yes” and “No” camps neck-and-neck as 4.3 million—97 per cent of the electorate—started to go to the polls. Voting began at 7am in the 2,608 polling booths in Scotland’s 32 local authority areas. For the first time 16 and 17-year-olds all across the country will be able to take part and have their say.

This is the most exciting day in Scottish democracy

Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond - pro-indepence

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond was outside Ritchie Hall polling station in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, two hours after polls opened. Salmond, leading the “Yes” campaign, was joined by two first-time voters, 18-year-old Natasha McDonald and Lea Pirie, 28. He gave both women a soft “Yes” toy as a mascot for their vote and the trio stopped for pictures on their way into the polling station. Former Chancellor and leader of the Better Together campaign Alistair Darling was photographed with his wife Maggie and No campaigners in Edinburgh. He was booed by some, but cheered by others, as he arrived at the polling station at the Church Hill Theatre in Edinburgh.

It’s been a long, hard two-and-a-half year campaign, passions have been aroused on both sides, and understandably so because we are talking about the biggest single decision that any of us will ever take in our lifetime

Alistair Darling, leader of the Better Together Campaign

Scottish referendum Europe