However, at the same time, electoral registration offices across the country have been swamped pressure with applications to register for the vote.

And this area has been no different, with thousands of residents scrambling to ensure they have the chance to vote either Yes or No.

The deadline for voter registration was midnight last Tuesday (September 2) across the country.

Dumbarton, the Vale and Clydebank is paired with East Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute in a Valuation Joint Board area, which is how voters are organised in Scotland.

Statistics obtained by the Electoral Registration Office based in Clydebank show that between August 1 and September 2, the electorate across the entire board rose by 3,500 people.

A spokesman for the ERO added: “This, again, is a net gain which does not even start to tell the number of additions and deletions actually processed to arrive at that net figure.” Meanwhile, the latest poll from You Gov shows a rise in support for the Yes campaign.

The survey put Yes on 51 per cent — after don’t knows are left to one side — and No on 49 per cent.

A previous YouGov poll, taken just four weeks before, estimated that Yes was on just 39 per cent and No on 61 per cent — an eight point swing in just four weeks.

Both sides have stepped up their campaigning in Dumbarton and the Vale in recent weeks. Last week, we revealed two of the area’s elected representatives — Gemma Doyle MP and Jackie Baillie MSP — had called on the SNP to address the issue of affordability and funding of pensions going forward if there is a Yes vote on September 18.

However, West of Scotland SNP MSP Stuart McMillan said his Better Together counterparts had a “cheek” to to talk about pensions.

He said “We work longer and get less in pensions than most other EU countries. With a ‘Yes’ vote pensions will continue to be paid in full and on time, as now.” The deadlines to vote in person, by post or by proxy have all passed so if you haven’t registered to vote you will have lost the opportunity.

However, if you are called away from home unexpectedly and unavoidably, you can apply for an emergency proxy from your local Electoral Registration Office, who can be contacted on 0141 562 1200.