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Scotland Heads to the Polls to Vote on Independence

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Scotland Decides: The Independence Referendum In Photos

Britain Scotland
Yes campaign supporters in the Scottish referendum gather in George Square in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sept. 19, 2014 Lynne Cameron—AP
'No' ballots are stacked on a table during the Scottish independence referendum count at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept. 19, 2014.
'No' ballots are stacked on a table during the Scottish independence referendum count at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept. 19, 2014. David Cheskin—EPA
Supporters from the "No" Campaign react to a declaration in their favour, at the Better Together Campaign headquarters in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 19, 2014.
Supporters from the "No" Campaign react to a declaration in their favour, at the Better Together Campaign headquarters in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 19, 2014. Dylan Martinez—Reuters
A voter, with clear voting intentions, holds up a Yes placard while heading to a local polling station to vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum at Ruchazie Community Centre, Ruchazie, Glasgow, Scotland, Sept/ 18, 2014.
A voter, with clear voting intentions, holds up a Yes placard while heading to a local polling station to vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum at Ruchazie Community Centre, Ruchazie, Glasgow, Scotland, Sept/ 18, 2014.Robert Perry—EPA
People wait to cast their votes inside a polling station in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Sept. 18, 2014, during a referendum on Scotland's independence.
People wait to cast their votes inside a polling station in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Sept. 18, 2014, during a referendum on Scotland's independence. Leon Neal—AFP/Getty Images
A supporter of the 'Yes' campaign stands outside a polling station as Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond casts his vote during the referendum on Scottish independence in Strichen, Scotland, Sept. 18, 2014.
A supporter of the 'Yes' campaign stands outside a polling station as Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond casts his vote during the referendum on Scottish independence in Strichen, Scotland, Sept. 18, 2014. Dylan Martinez—Reuters
Campaigners wave Scottish Saltires at a 'Yes' campaign rally in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 17, 2014.
Campaigners wave Scottish Saltires at a 'Yes' campaign rally in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 17, 2014.Dylan Martinez—Reuters
Graffiti supporting the "Yes" campaign is painted on a road in North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Sept. 17, 2014.
Graffiti supporting the "Yes" campaign is painted on a road in North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Sept. 17, 2014. Cathal McNaughton—Reuters
An anti-independence activist wearing shoes bearing the Union flag rallies opposite pro-independence supporters in Glasgow's George Square, in Scotland, on Sept. 17, 2014, on the eve of Scotland's independence referendum.
An anti-independence activist wearing shoes bearing the Union flag rallies opposite pro-independence supporters in Glasgow's George Square, in Scotland, on Sept. 17, 2014, on the eve of Scotland's independence referendum. Leon Neal—AFP/Getty Images
A young girl with a Scottish Saltire painted on her face waits outside a 'Yes' campaign rally in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 17, 2014.
A young girl with a Scottish Saltire painted on her face waits outside a 'Yes' campaign rally in Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 17, 2014. Dylan Martinez—Reuters
Pro-independence supporters' Scottish flag seen in front pro-union activists in Glasgow's George Square, in Scotland, on Sept. 17, 2014, on the eve of Scotland's independence referendum.
Pro-independence supporters' Scottish flag seen in front of pro-union activists in Glasgow's George Square, in Scotland, on Sept. 17, 2014, on the eve of Scotland's independence referendum. Leon Neal—AFP/Getty Images
A woman with a 'Vote No' sign and a bag bearing a British flag, at an anti-Scottish independence Better Together rally at Community Central Hall, Glasgow, Sept. 17, 2014.
A woman with a 'Vote No' sign and a bag bearing a British flag, at an anti-Scottish independence Better Together rally at Community Central Hall, Glasgow, Sept. 17, 2014.Colin McPherson/Corbis
Cuckoo's Bakery reveal the result of the cupcakes referendum that the bakery has been holding since March 7 by selling Yes, No and undecided cupcakes at Cuckoo's Bakery in Dundas Street, on Sept. 17, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Cuckoo's Bakery reveal the result of the cupcakes referendum that the bakery has been holding since March 7 by selling Yes, No and undecided cupcakes at Cuckoo's Bakery in Dundas Street, on Sept. 17, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Matt Cardy—Getty Images
Men from King of Scots Robert the Bruce Society, hold the Scottish flags as they prepare to vote in the Scottish independence referendum on Sept 14, 2014 in Loch Lomond.
Men from King of Scots Robert the Bruce Society, hold the Scottish flags as they prepare to vote in the Scottish independence referendum on Sept 14, 2014 in Loch Lomond. Jeff J Mitchell—Getty Images

Voting is underway in Scotland’s historic independence referendum Thursday, and the atmosphere at the polls is electric. Scots began lining up to vote before the polls even opened at 7 a.m. BST (2 a.m. ET), to have their say on whether Scotland should stay in the U.K. or become an independent nation. And with over 4.2 million people registered to vote, a historically high turnout is expected.

While one member of the Scottish parliament praised the vote’s “precious democracy” and early participation rates, concerns over rising hostility in the independence campaign led one senior pro-union Better Together source to predict “absolute carnage” on polling day. Jackie Baillie, another member of the Scottish Parliament, tweeted a photo of one polling place bearing the graffiti “Vote Yes or Else!” and criticized the behavior of those “trying to threaten and intimidate” voters. Still, the official in charge of the referendum vote counting told The Guardian she had “no concerns” about disruptions, and early reports suggest voters are “turning out in good numbers and good humor,” with one voter calling the atmosphere “friendly.”

The historic vote marks the first time in British history that 16- and 17-year-olds can cast their ballot, and plenty of young voters turned up before the school day began. There have been older first-time voters too — with 97% of Scotland’s electorate registered to make a yes-or-no choice in the referendum, political apathy has been cast aside for the vote. Excluding undecided voters, the latest Ipsos Mori poll shows a slight strengthening of the No lead – 53% to 47% in the Yes camp. Still, this poll also shows that 4% of voters are still undecided as some Scots turned up at polling stations only to decide to return in a few hours. That means both sides of the debate are continuing to campaign for votes.

“I’ve watched all the debates but you get no answers,” Angela Colquhoun, a 41-year-old nursing auxiliary voting in the referendum, told The Guardian. “People are scared about what’s going to happen. They might vote no to stick with the known, but that’s not a good enough reason.”

On Wednesday evening, it wasn’t just party leaders and Scottish activists trying to make their voices heard. People around the world took to Twitter ahead of the referendum – from Scottish tennis leader Andy Murray, who boosted the Yes campaign by criticizing “no campaign negativity,” to U.S. President Barack Obama urging the U.K. to remain “strong, robust and united.”

2,609 polling places are open Thursday and will close at 10 p.m. local time, or 5 p.m. ET. Anyone still in line at this time will be allowed to cast their vote, but counting will begin almost immediately. Votes from some of the more remote regions of Scotland – particularly islands off the coast – will be collected by helicopters and boats, but bad weather could delay the receipt of these ballot boxes. Recounts will only be allowed at a local level if there are concerns about the voting process. Results from the first local authorities will start rolling in at 2 a.m. local time, but the final announcement is expected between 6:30 and 7:30 local time Friday morning.

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Write to Naina Bajekal at naina.bajekal@time.com