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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. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| President of pollsters YouGov, Peter Kellner, said he was 99% certain that Scotland would vote to remain in the UK. | President of pollsters YouGov, 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. |
| SNP MSP Humza Yousaf conceded that the "Yes" campaign were the "underdogs" in the referendum, but said they relished that status. | SNP MSP Humza Yousaf conceded that the "Yes" campaign were the "underdogs" in the referendum, but said they relished that status. |
| Analysis: Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor | |
| The evidence from throughout Scotland is of a large, indeed a phenomenal, turnout. A series of questions arise from that. | |
| One, will this benefit one side or the other? That depends upon differential turnout. Is one side or the other feeling more motivated, more inclined to participate? | |
| It had been thought that the more motivated side would be Yes. It had been thought this could be worth one or two per cent in the final tally. | |
| However, at these huge levels of interest, that may be open to challenge. It seems that the entirety of Scotland is engaged. We shall see. | |
| Read more from Brian | |
| 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." | 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". | 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, where the total turnout was 78.8%, said the outlook in the city was very good for the "Yes" campaign. | |
| Labour shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said the story of the early part of the evening was the "enormous turnout". | Labour shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said the story of the early part of the evening was the "enormous turnout". |
| "We should all feel both extraordinary pride and a certain humility when it comes to a turnout of this scale because it is literally unprecedented," he said. | "We should all feel both extraordinary pride and a certain humility when it comes to a turnout of this scale because it is literally unprecedented," he said. |
| "Predictions at this stage need to be taken with a barrel of salt not just a punch of salt." | "Predictions at this stage need to be taken with a barrel of salt not just a punch of salt." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| And, for the first time, 16 and 17-year-olds all across Scotland were able to vote. | 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. |
| 'Steady stream' | 'Steady stream' |
| Many councils have reported busy polling stations throughout Thursday, with some seeing queues both ahead of the polls opening and throughout the morning. | Many councils have reported busy polling stations throughout Thursday, with some seeing queues both ahead of the polls opening and throughout the morning. |
| And more than 90% of postal ballots have been returned in several local authority areas, with total turnout put at 88.6% in Clackmannanshire and 84% in Orkney, the first two areas to announce how many people had voted. | And more than 90% of postal ballots have been returned in several local authority areas, with total turnout put at 88.6% in Clackmannanshire and 84% in Orkney, the first two areas to announce how many people had voted. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Referendum night | Referendum 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. |
| Did you vote in the referendum? Are you at a referendum party? Send us your pictures and tell us what the mood is like where you are by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Did you vote in the referendum? Are you at a referendum party? Send us your pictures and tell us what the mood is like where you are by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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