What we’re tracking on 23 June 2016: Brexit vote appears too close to call, Gamal Abdel Nasser Mistral helicopter arrives
It’s Brexit Day ladies and gentlemen: Voters in the UK head to the polls between 7am GMT (8am CLT) and 10pm GMT (11pm CLT) to decide whether or not to remain in the European Union. There will be no exit polls, so expect results to come in around “breakfast time” on Friday morning, according to the Electoral Commission, or watch as the results trickle in throughout the night. The Financial Times has a primer on what to expect, writing that the picture could be clear by about 3:30am GMT (4:30am) on Friday, and if the result has not been called by the press at 6-7am GMT, “it could be because the numbers are very close.”
On the possible outcome: Two polls suggest the “Leave” camp is edging ahead, Bloomberg reports. The Independent reports that “one of the final polls before the EU referendum has shown Remain with a significant lead,” while the Telegraph writes that “leave given marginal poll lead hours before Brits start voting.” An earlier online poll published by Opinium showed 45% “Leave” and 44% for “Remain,” which is technically “a statistical dead heat.” But even though it’s neck and neck, the Wall Street Journal writes that “respondents across different surveys are increasingly convinced that leaving the bloc would hurt not only the economy, but their personal finances,” which may tilt the vote in favor of “Remain.”
Closer to home: The Mistral-class helicopter carrier Gamal Abdel Nasser is set to arrive in Alexandria today, Al Masry Al Youm reported.