Watch above: With so much at stake, observers were invited to Scotland to monitor the independence referendum. Stuart Greer talks to Lloyd Dalziel from International Sustainable Community Assistance.
A group of 16 Canadians is among those observing this week’s historic independence vote in Scotland.
The observers, who arrived in Scotland’s capital Edinburgh on Saturday, are spending the time leading up to Thursday’s referendum assessing the attitudes of Scottish voters and keeping an eye on voter concerns.
One day before Scots decide whether or not to break away from the United Kingdom, after 307 years, polls show the vote is split: 52 per cent favour remaining a part of the U.K., compared to 48 per cent planning to vote for independence, according to BBC.
READ MORE: Scotland referendum: Emotions mount on final day of Scottish campaign
Lloyd Dalziel is the chair of International Sustainable Community Development (ISCA) — the Charlottetown, P.E.I. non-government organization that assembled the observation team.
According to ISCA’s website, the observers were required to foot the bill for their participation, at a cost of $4,195.00 per person, including airfare from Charlottetown to Edinburgh.
On referendum day, the observers will visit eight to 10 polling stations, some in Edinburgh and some in rural communities, Dalziel said in a post on the ISCA website.
Dalziel told Global News being an observer involves much more than being present on the day when “Yes” or “No” ballots are cast.
He explained these daily activities in the run-up will go into a final report that will be submitted to the electoral commission.
Observers often take part in monitoring missions where voter rights may be in jeopardy or the legitimacy of results may be in question. But, Dalziel said this vote is an example of democracy at work and the public actively taking part in it.
“I think that’s a fantastic part of this democratic process. There’s a discussion happening between the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ side,” he said.
“It’s very lively,” he explained. “People, even in bars, will get into heated arguments but they can agree to disagree in the end.”
READ MORE: Will a ‘Yes’ vote mean higher scotch prices?
While democracy may seem to be working like a well-oiled machine in Scotland, Dalziel pointed out that nothing’s ever perfect and the observers have encountered issues of concern.
“Not that we’re hearing complaints every day, but we are having concerns raised from civil society organizations about the campaign, about the registration process,” he explained.
“So, if you’re a homeless person living in Glasgow, how are you getting those registration forms if you don’t have access to the Internet and to a computer? So for some people, it may be difficult to get registered and get on that electoral roll. “
He added that observers have also heard of voters not receiving postal ballots —allowing them to vote by mail —which could pose a problem should they try to cast a vote at a polling station on Thursday.
Still, according to the Guardian, 97 per cent of eligible voters are registered to cast a ballot. While support for the “Yes” and “No” votes are split, the huge number of undecided voters— the Daily Mail reported there are some 350,000 of them— are under immense pressure, Dalziel said.
With files from Global News’ Stuart Greer
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