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Scottish independence: Counting begins in referendum Scottish independence: Counting begins in referendum
(35 minutes later)
The polls have closed and counting is under way in the referendum to decide whether Scotland should stay in the UK or become an independent country.The polls have closed and counting is under way in the referendum to decide whether Scotland should stay in the UK or become an independent country.
Counting will be carried out through the night, with individual results announced for each of Scotland's 32 local authority areas.Counting will be carried out through the night, with individual results announced for each of Scotland's 32 local authority areas.
The final national result is expected after 06:30 BST (05:30 GMT) on Friday.The final national result is expected after 06:30 BST (05:30 GMT) on Friday.
A YouGov on-the-day survey published shortly after polls closed suggested "No" was on 54% and "Yes" on 46%.A YouGov on-the-day survey published shortly after polls closed suggested "No" was on 54% and "Yes" on 46%.
The survey questioned 1,828 people after they voted, together with the postal votes of 800 people, although it is not a traditional exit poll.The survey questioned 1,828 people after they voted, together with the postal votes of 800 people, although it is not a traditional exit poll.
YouGov said its responses suggested there had been a small shift from "Yes" to "No" on polling day, and also that "No" supporters were slightly more likely to turn out to vote.YouGov said its responses suggested there had been a small shift from "Yes" to "No" on polling day, and also that "No" supporters were slightly more likely to turn out to vote.
A "Yes" vote in the ballot would end the 307-year-old union between Scotland and the rest of the UK.A "Yes" vote in the ballot would end the 307-year-old union between Scotland and the rest of the UK.
YouGov president Peter Kellner said he was 99% certain that Scotland would vote to remain in the UK.YouGov president Peter Kellner said he was 99% certain that Scotland would vote to remain in the UK.
He told Sky News: "At the obvious risk of looking like a complete prat in eight hours' time, I would say it is a 99% certainty of a 'No' victory... I can't see 'No' losing this now."He told Sky News: "At the obvious risk of looking like a complete prat in eight hours' time, I would say it is a 99% certainty of a 'No' victory... I can't see 'No' losing this now."
Mr Kellner said his research had suggested "substantially more" people switched from "Yes" to "No" than the other way around.Mr Kellner said his research had suggested "substantially more" people switched from "Yes" to "No" than the other way around.
He added: "'If we have got this wrong, if "Yes" win, we and by extension other pollsters, have got something badly wrong." He added: "If we have got this wrong, if "Yes" win, we and by extension other pollsters, have got something badly wrong."
SNP MSP Humza Yousaf conceded that "Yes" campaign were the "underdogs" in the referendum, but said the campaign relished that status.
Responding to the YouGov poll, he told the BBC: "We've had one poll, but it's not an exit poll and it certainly won't take into account the high levels of turnout that we're seeing and hearing about across the country."
Pro-Union campaigners were encouraged by the early signs in East Lothian, where postal votes were said by observers to clearly favour "No".
But a Labour independence campaigner at the Dundee count said the outlook in the city was very good for the "Yes" campaign.
Sir Malcolm Bruce, the Liberal Democrat MP and a "No" supporter, said he believed that "reality has kicked in" with voters switching back to "No" after being briefly seduced by the "Yes" campaign's message.
He said: "Certainly we felt that the campaign was swinging back to our side - if it ever really swung away to the extent that people suggested - both in terms of our canvassing and the responses we've been getting as people came out of the polling stations.
As soon as Scotland's 2,608 polling places closed, work began to transport hundreds of ballot boxes to counting centres in each of Scotland's 32 local authorities.As soon as Scotland's 2,608 polling places closed, work began to transport hundreds of ballot boxes to counting centres in each of Scotland's 32 local authorities.
The bulk of the local results are expected to come between 03:00 and 05:00 BST (02:00 and 04:00 GMT) on Friday.The bulk of the local results are expected to come between 03:00 and 05:00 BST (02:00 and 04:00 GMT) on Friday.
These will include votes cast from the 789,024 postal vote applications, which was the largest volume of registration for postal votes ever in Scotland.These will include votes cast from the 789,024 postal vote applications, which was the largest volume of registration for postal votes ever in Scotland.
And, for the first time, 16 and 17-year-olds all across Scotland were able to vote.
Once the results from all the local authority areas are known, chief counting officer Mary Pitcaithly will declare the result of the referendum at the Royal Highland Centre outside Edinburgh.Once the results from all the local authority areas are known, chief counting officer Mary Pitcaithly will declare the result of the referendum at the Royal Highland Centre outside Edinburgh.
However, running totals - which can be made from the first declaration onwards - may indicate a result earlier in the morning.However, running totals - which can be made from the first declaration onwards - may indicate a result earlier in the morning.
Opinion polls released before the vote suggested the referendum was too close to call, although most had the "No" campaign - which backs staying in the UK - holding a slight lead. 'Steady stream'
For the first time, 16 and 17-year-olds all across Scotland were able to vote.
Many councils have reported busy polling stations were busy throughout Thursday, with some seeing queues both ahead of the polls opening and throughout the morning.Many councils have reported busy polling stations were busy throughout Thursday, with some seeing queues both ahead of the polls opening and throughout the morning.
Stirling Council area counting officer Bob Jack said: "There has been a steady stream of voters and we have been very busy." And more than 90% of postal ballots have been returned in several local authority areas.
In East Renfrewshire, there were queues before the polls opened this morning and a steady stream since, a council spokeswoman said. Some voters had been kissing their ballots, she added.
In East Lothian, it was reported that at least 94% of postal votes have been returned - the authority's previous record was 65%.
'Biggest decision'
Elsewhere, the Dumfries count reported a 95.5% return rate on postal votes.
Large numbers of independence supporters have gathered in George Square, in the centre of Glasgow, ahead of the result.Large numbers of independence supporters have gathered in George Square, in the centre of Glasgow, ahead of the result.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who led the pro-independence "Yes" campaign, cast his ballot at Ritchie Hall in Strichen, Aberdeenshire.Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who led the pro-independence "Yes" campaign, cast his ballot at Ritchie Hall in Strichen, Aberdeenshire.
Despite long days of campaigning, the first minister said he managed to get a good rest on the eve of the vote.Despite long days of campaigning, the first minister said he managed to get a good rest on the eve of the vote.
He said: "I got a fantastic night's sleep, obviously there's a great deal of anticipation, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it's a day that everybody will remember.He said: "I got a fantastic night's sleep, obviously there's a great deal of anticipation, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it's a day that everybody will remember.
"We're in the hands of the people of Scotland and there's no safer place to be than in the hands of the Scottish people.""We're in the hands of the people of Scotland and there's no safer place to be than in the hands of the Scottish people."
Pro-Union Better Together leader Alistair Darling was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos as he arrived at the Church Hill Theatre in Edinburgh to cast his vote.Pro-Union Better Together leader Alistair Darling was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos as he arrived at the Church Hill Theatre in Edinburgh to cast his vote.
He said: "I'm feeling very confident. 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.He said: "I'm feeling very confident. 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.
"But I'm increasingly confident that we will win tonight.""But I'm increasingly confident that we will win tonight."
A group of well-wishers cheered former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a prominent figure in the "No" campaign as he made the short trip to his local polling station at North Queensferry Community Centre in Fife.
After casting her vote, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "I've just voted #Yes to Scotland becoming an independent country. What a wonderful feeling."
Referendum nightReferendum night
The BBC's Scotland Decides will bring continuous, up-to-date coverage all through the night, as well as comprehensive analysis. On Twitter, keep abreast of all the action overnight via @BBCPolitics and @BBCScotlandNews.The BBC's Scotland Decides will bring continuous, up-to-date coverage all through the night, as well as comprehensive analysis. On Twitter, keep abreast of all the action overnight via @BBCPolitics and @BBCScotlandNews.
A Scotland Decides programme presented by Huw Edwards will be broadcast on BBC One from 22:35 BST, while Scotland Decides The Result will be broadcast on BBC One Scotland.A Scotland Decides programme presented by Huw Edwards will be broadcast on BBC One from 22:35 BST, while Scotland Decides The Result will be broadcast on BBC One Scotland.
Or follow the results on BBC Radio 4's Scotland Decides programme presented by James Naughtie and Rachel Burden. BBC Radio Scotland will also provide live coverage from 22:00 BST until 06:00 BST.Or follow the results on BBC Radio 4's Scotland Decides programme presented by James Naughtie and Rachel Burden. BBC Radio Scotland will also provide live coverage from 22:00 BST until 06:00 BST.
You can also watch and listen to all the live television and radio coverage on the BBC News website.You can also watch and listen to all the live television and radio coverage on the BBC News website.
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