英国开始公投，决定是否留在欧盟

Voting began Thursday in Britain’s historic election that by the end of the day will decide whether the country remains in the European Union.

As voters went to polling stations, public opinion polls showed the two sides in a dead heat.

Turnout was expected to be high, culminating a bitter, two-month campaign that centered largely on immigration, a highly sensitive and divisive issue in a nation whose immigration rate has doubled since 2000.

Prime Minister David Cameron has led the call to remain. On Thursday, he made a final pitch to convince undecided voters. “We are stronger, we are better off in a reformed European Union,” he said. Cameron and other opponents of a Brexit say Britain’s economy will be badly damaged if it breaks away from the 28-nation bloc.

Analysts say Cameron’s political future hangs in the balance depending on the outcome of the poll. If the voters’ decision Thursday is to leave the EU, pundits say Cameron will lose his mandate and have little choice but to resign, something the British leader has until now said he will not do.