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With 26 of 32 regions in Scotland reporting, British media outlets have forecast a victory for the No side in the Scottish referendum.
Glasgow, the biggest city to report to date, put a dent in the lead but the overall total still stood at 54 per cent for the No campaign.
The question on the ballot asked voters simply: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” and a record number of voters were expected to turn out for their chance to weigh in on whether to put an end to the 307-year arrangement with the United Kingdom.
Local officials said that more than 4.2 million people registered to cast a ballot in the referendum, which represents roughly 97 per cent of all eligible voters. Included in those eligible to vote were people as young as 16.
Alex Salmond, the first minister who led the independence campaign, made a final effort to woo voters Wednesday, saying the referendum represented an “opportunity of a lifetime.”
The Yes campaign were looking for a greater determination with oil and natural gas reserves in the North Sea, health care, and spending and taxation, among other issues.
British Prime Minister David Cameron made a case for a No vote days earlier, warning that a vote for independence would be “forever” and urging voters to choose to stick together.
He is expected to speak to the result on Friday morning.
As well, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds were among corporations threatening to move to England in the event of a Yes vote.
Scotland has a population of just over 5 million, a small proportion of the more than 64 million people in the broader U.K.
Scotland is currently allotted 59 seats out of 650 in British Parliament.
The first six of 32 regions reporting all went into the No column, with Dundee and West Dunbartonshire then becoming the first centres to fall for the Yes side.
But through 22 regions, only four featured a Yes majority.
Clackmannanshire, the first region to report, was a win for the No vote, with 54 per cent rejecting an independent Scotland.
The fifth centre to report was remarkably close. The margin of victory among 54,572 total voters in Inverclyde was just 86 votes, with the No side again prevailing.
The margin between the two sides through the entire country was just 1,400 votes through eight centres — until Midlothian reported a comfortable result for the No campaign. Stirling and Dumfries were even more clear cut for No.
Glasgow’s vote count came in at just over 364,000, with a 53.5 per cent advantage for Yes.
