Scottish referendum turnout hits record high of 84.5%

It was a record-breaking night for the UK, with turnout in the Scottish referendum reaching the highest for any election held in the United Kingdom since the introduction of universal suffrage in 1918.

The participation rate of 84.5% topped the previous best of 83.9% recorded in the 1950 general election and dwarfed the tallies in recent Westminster polls, which saw 65.1% vote in 2010 and 61.4% in 2005.