QUICK FACTS ON BRITAIN'S EU REFERENDUM:
THE QUESTION
Voters will be given one piece of paper with the question: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?"
They will be asked to put a cross beside either:
- "Remain a member of the European Union"
- "Leave the European Union"
WHO CAN VOTE?
All those who are entitled to vote in a UK parliamentary election can vote in the referendum, including British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens over the age of 18 who are resident in the UK. UK nationals resident overseas who have appeared on a parliamentary election register in the past 15 years will also have the right to vote, as will Irish citizens who were born in Northern Ireland and registered to vote in Northern Ireland in the last 15 years. In addition, peers and citizens of Gibraltar who were able to vote at a European parliamentary election can vote. EU citizens resident in the UK cannot vote
WHEN CAN PEOPLE VOTE?
Polling stations open at 0600 GMT (1600 AEST) on Thursday and close at 2100 GMT (0700 AEST Friday)
WHEN WILL RESULTS COME?
- Votes will be counted by hand, starting as soon as polls close at 2100 GMT on Thursday (0700 AEST Friday)
- Each of 382 local counting areas will tally the number of ballot papers cast and announce local turnout figures (including spoiled ballots and postal votes) in each of the areas
- The Electoral Commission has estimated that most turnout announcements at counting-area level will come between 2230 on Thursday (0830 AEST Friday) and 0130 (1130 AEST) on Friday
- The last turnout figure is expected at around 0400 (1400 AEST) Friday
- Local totals will be collated into totals for 12 regions and then a final, national, result
- The final result will be announced in Manchester by Jenny Watson, Chief Counting Officer
CAN THE COUNT AND VOTE BE CHALLENGED?
The electoral commission rules allow a recount only at the local level, not the national level. The national referendum result is only subject to challenge by way of judicial review.
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