Edinburgh, Sep 19 (IANS/EFE) An unofficial poll by YouGov indicated that 54 percent of those who cast ballots in Scotland's independence referendum voted "no".

Ninety-seven percent of the 4.3 million people eligible to vote Thursday registered to do so, and turnout was estimated at more than 80 percent.

The polls closed at 10 p.m. and the first official results were not expected until after midnight, with the final tabulation coming at around 7 a.m. Friday.

YouGov interviewed 1,828 people who cast their ballots at polling places and 800 others who voted by mail.

The responses point to a small shift from the "yes" to the "no" column on polling day, the survey firm said. YouGov's final pre-ballot poll, conducted for The Sun and The Times, gave the "no" side an advantage of 52 percent to 48 percent.

Residents of Scotland, 16 and older, including Commonwealth and European Union nationals, were eligible to vote on whether Scotland should leave the United Kingdom after 307 years.