September 18, 2014
Mariah Timms
News Writer
World News
Scotland residents are at the polls today to vote “yes” or “no” on a referendum calling for independence from the United Kingdom. The ballot will ask: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” All residents of Scotland, whether they are British, qualifying Commonwealth or European Union citizens and the age of 16 or older are eligible to vote. The registered electorate, at 97 percent of the over-16 population, is the largest in the country’s history. Polls will close at 9 p.m. local time (BST). Results will probably begin being reported around 7 p.m. EDT, but official results will not be announced until all counts are in. The referendum does not create immediate independence if the “Yes” campaign wins. That process would take at least until March 2016. Scotland became part of the union in 1707.
