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Great Britain is voting on whether they will stay in the European Union or not. The outcome of that vote could weigh heavily on U.S. economy and intelligence agencies. VPC
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha leave after voting in the EU referendum in London, Thursday June 23, 2016.(Photo: Alastair Grant, AP)
LONDON — The<span style="color: Red;">*</span>United Kingdom voted in<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a<span style="color: Red;">*</span>historic referendum Thursday on whether to remain in the European Union, a decision sure to have global repercussions.
Ahead of the vote, the "leave" and "remain" sides were locked in a virtual dead heat, surveys showed.
Polls opened at 7<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a.m. ET (2<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a.m. ET) and close at 10<span style="color: Red;">*</span>p.m. (10 p.m. ET).<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The U.K. Electoral Commission said it will announce the results on<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Friday.
A decision to leave the 28-nation alliance, the first since the EU was formed 43 years ago, could prompt other members to follow the U.K.'s lead and reverse a decades-long drive for European unity.
A British exit—<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a "Brexit" — also could send global financial markets into a tailspin because of fears that the result will have a negative impact on trade, economic growth, jobs and investment in Europe.
The four-month campaign has been acrimonious. Backers<span style="color: Red;">*</span>argued<span style="color: Red;">*</span>that severing ties with the EU<span style="color: Red;">*</span>is the only way to reduce a flood of migrants and protect the U.K.'s<span style="color: Red;">*</span>independence from burdensome<span style="color: Red;">*</span>EU regulation. Supporters of remaining in the EU, led by Prime Minister David Cameron,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said<span style="color: Red;">*</span>jobs, the economy, national security and the U.K.'s<span style="color: Red;">*</span>standing on the world stage would be compromised outside the alliance.
It is the U.K.'s<span style="color: Red;">*</span>third nationwide referendum, and its second on EU membership. U.K.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>voters backed staying in the EU in 1975.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Scotland failed to win<span style="color: Red;">*</span>independence in a 2014 vote that was only held north of the border.
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USA TODAY
When will we know the result of the 'Brexit' vote?
The Electoral Commission said a record 46.5 million people have registered to vote.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The question on the ballot paper is: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?" The side that gets more than 50% of the votes will win.
Many in the southeast of England, including London, woke to heavy rain that<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was forecast to ease before resuming in the afternoon. Forecasters said people in western Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern parts of England could expect some scattered showers throughout the day. Rain sometimes suppresses voter turnout.
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