EU referendum underway in Britain

2016-06-23 14:51

By (Xinhua)

A man walks into a polling station for the Referendum on the European Union in Heald Green, Stockport, Britain, June 23, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Millions of Britons will vote to stay in or leave the European Union (EU) on Thursday as polling stations across the country opened to the public in the morning.

The referendum started at 7 am and will end at 10 pm Voting will be held at schools, libraries, churches and community centers.

The ballot counting will start as soon as the polls close. A total of 382 counting areas will be set up, with 380 located in England, Wales and Scotland, and one in Northern Ireland and one in Gibraltar.

The outcome is expected to be officially declared at the Manchester Town Hall in the early hours of Friday.

Statistics from the Electoral Commission on Tuesday showed that about 46 million people are eligible to the EU referendum, a record number for a nationwide poll in Britain.

According to six main opinion polls from June 18 to 22, the "Leave" camp was tied with the "Remain" camp.

Politicians from the two sides made their final pitches on the eve of the historic poll.