UK referendum on controversial ‘Brexit’ underway

Balloting for the third referendum in the history of the United Kingdom got underway on Thursday with 46.5 million British citizens eligible to vote on whether their country will remain in the European Union or exit. Voting stations including ones in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar will close at 10:00 p.m. local time, with the results of the "Brexit" referendum expected to be released in the early hours of Friday morning. 

Prime Minister David Cameron has staked his political reputation on a “remain” majority, after a contentious campaign in which he was hotly challenged by fellow-Conservative and rival, the former London mayor Boris Johnson who advocated quitting Europe.