Counting begins

Counting begins of ballot papers by the 5,767-strong national counting team and the total will be reported to national chief counting officer Mary Pitcaithly, who will approve the local counting officer in each of the 32 local authorities across Scotland to announce the turnout. Papers will be sorted into Yes, No and doubtful, which will need to be judged and may have to be discarded. The results will be declared in each individual counting area and when all the totals are in, Pitcaithly will announce the final result.