AFTER VOTE ON INDEPENDENCE,SCOTLAND AWAITS RESULT

 

A ballot box was emptied at a counting center in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond (center) arrived with two first-time voters to place his vote at a polling station in Strichen, Scotland. Salmond is in favor of Scottish independence.

The first of the 32 results saw a 54-46 percent No victory in the central district of Clackmannanshire. Results from the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow were not expected for several hours.

Eager voters had lined up outside some polling stations even before they opened Thursday. More than 4.2 million people had registered to vote — 97 percent of those eligible — including residents as young as 16.