Scotland votes on independence today

Scotland's voters will head to the polls todayto cast their ballots in the country's landmark independence referendum.

There, they will face a straightforward yes/no question: Should Scotland be an independent country?

More than 4.2 million people have registered to vote, the largest electorate ever in Scotland, and turnout in the referendum is expected to be high.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. local time across 32 voting districts nationwide and, for the first time, the vote has been extended to 16- and 17-year-olds living in Scotland.

A vote for independence would mean Scotland, with its population of about 5.3 million, splits from the rest of the United Kingdom, made up of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Voters in the referendum do not have to be British citizens; Commonwealth, Irish and EU citizens who live in Scotland and are registered to vote there can cast a ballot. However, Scots living outside Scotland do not have a say.

Results are expected to come in overnight into Friday morning local time.