Constituents the length and breadth of the country are being asked, ‘should Scotland be an independent country?’ — and that includes 1,725 16 and 17-year-olds from West Dunbartonshire, who will cast their vote for the first time.

And no matter what their political viewpoint, all voters are being encouraged to exercise their democratic right, with the area’s Provost saying, “have no regrets” come Friday.

There are 24 polling stations in Dumbarton and the Vale opening their doors at 7am on Thursday morning and closing at 10pm, before polling boxes are sealed shut and sent to the Playdrome in Clydebank.

There the count for West Dunbartonshire will take place and the outcome from votes relayed to a central office. It is expected results for the area will be confirmed around 3am, but it could take until 10am on September 19 to confirm the final decision.

Whilst polling cards from Dumbarton and the Vale will make their way to the Clydebank Playdrome via the A82, many ballot boxes elsewhere in the country will have to be transported by boat or aircraft.

Indeed in the Western Isles, the use of a helicopter has been secured to ensure the timely transfer of votes.

Results from local authorities across the country will start to trickle in from around 1am on Friday, with rough estimates on the decision expected around 7am.

Mary Pitcaithly, chief counting officer, will reveal whether Scotland will be independent country or not once it is mathematically impossible for the other side to win — that could happen before the final result is available.

Although there will be no national recount, both Yes and No campaigns can request a recount at each of the local counting stations.

The registered total of 4,285,323 voters means this is the largest electorate the country has ever known for any election or referendum.

That figure includes 789,024 postal votes and marks an increase of more than 300,000 since the last Westminster election in 2012.

We will reporting live from polling stations across the area on Thursday and live from the count on Thursday night.

Follow us on Twitter @dumbartonreport or on Facebook for all the local news as it happens and read our 12-page referendum special, starting on P19 of this week’s paper.