UK starts voting on whether to leave European Union

A Time report says a record number of voters — almost 46.5 million — have registered to take part in the referendum that comes after bitter campaigning and is going to be a very close affiar.

The ruling Conservative party is divided over the vote, which Prime Minister  David Cameron promised voters before last year’s general election.

The former London Mayor Boris Johnson, who is Cameron’s possible successor as party leader, has led the Leave campaign, along with several serving Cabinet members, Time says.

 The campaign has drawn support with appeals to nationalism, especially among the English, claiming that outside of Europe, Britain would reclaim a sense of sovereignty and take back control of its borders.

Both Cameron and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have campaigned for the U.K. to Remain in the union, arguing that to leave would risk economic disaster.

In one of the last polls before the vote, YouGov found Remain leading on 51 per cent, to Leave’s 49 per cent, on the eve of the referendum. However, the pollsters said, “the race is too close to call.”