On Thursday 18 September, voters across Scotland will take to the polls to decide the future of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

Campaign groups have stepped up efforts to sway voters in the past few weeks, with both the pro-union and the pro-independence movements admitting that the results on Thursday could be close. So with that in mind, it is important that everyone who is registered to vote visits their polling station. Below is a guide on where to vote, when you can vote and when Midlothian’s results will be declared.

Where can I vote?

Penicuik and district has eight polling stations, with associated catchment areas. In summary here is a list of Penicuik’s zones and the associated polling stations:

• Greenlaw Mains 1 will vote at Mauricewood Primary School
• Greenlaw Mains 2, Belwood, Milton Bridge or Glencorse Barracks will vote at Glencorse Primary School
• Auchendinny will vote at the Glencorse Centre
• Deanburn and Mauricewood will vote at Penicuik’s YMCA Centre (Queensway)
• Cuiken will vote at Cuiken Primary School
• Cornbank will vote at Cornbank St James Primary School
• Valleyfield, Broomhill, Eskhill, Loanstone, Silverburn, Leadburn and Nine Mile Burn will vote at the North Church of Scotland (John Street)
• Ladywood and Eastfield will vote at Strathesk Primary School

If in doubt, consult Midlothian Council’s updated list of polling stations. Remember, you can only vote at your assigned station.

When can I vote?

The polls will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 18 September. Due to the high number of registered voters queues may form at polling stations during peak times such as 7am-9am, 12pm-1pm and 5pm-7pm. To keep the process moving smoothly, take your polling card with you. However, don’t fret if you’ve lost it, as long as you’re registered, they’ll know your name. If queues are present when the polls close, those in the queue before 10pm will be able to vote.

When will we know the outcome from Midlothian?

Counting will get underway as soon as the ballot boxes have been transferred to a counting office in the region. Officials anticipate a declaration of the county’s results to be made at 3:30am however each counting office is allowed to call a recount. It is anticipated that, if the results are close, a recount will be called. If this is the case, the declaration could be pushed back several hours. A final declaration on how Scotland voted will be made around 7am, or later if recounts are held.

On September 18 September make sure your vote counts. Mark your choice using a single ‘X’. Kenneth Lawrie, counting officer for the Midlothian region said:

We want everyone’s vote to count, whether they are voting by post or in person at a polling place on 18 September.  The safest way to ensure your vote counts is to only put one ‘X’ in the box beside the option you want to choose.