The polls have closed after people cast their votes to elect Scotland’s six MEPs, with candidates now facing a wait until Monday to discover the final results.
Voters had the chance to put a cross in the box next to their preferred candidate at polling stations around the country from 7am until 10pm on Thursday.
Party leaders were among those turning out to vote.
SNP leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon cast her ballot at the Broomhouse Community Hall in Glasgow on Thursday morning.
She was joined by her husband and SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, and SNP candidate Alexander Kerr.
Afterwards she declared she had done her “democratic duty”, urging Scots to vote for her party to “say no more referendums”.
Mr Leonard took to twitter after casting his ballot to urge people: “Please use your vote and make your voice heard.”
I’ve just voted Labour to bring our country together. Copper couldn’t but if you can, please use your vote and make your voice heard. #VoteLabour pic.twitter.com/nS5ELIfGcy
— Richard Leonard (@LabourRichard) May 23, 2019
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie tweeted that he had voted for his party “to stop Brexit”.
With the election taking place amid heightened political tension, police had deployed extra officers to deal with any disturbances.
Police Scotland confirmed four units comprising about 100 officers were “strategically placed” to deal with any incident.
This was in addition to usual policing.
Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr said: “We would never normally need that sort of support, particularly for European elections.
“We do now. The tone is just fundamentally different.”
Obligatory #dogsatpollingstations tweet! pic.twitter.com/hBinBD9MGS
— Patrick Harvie ?? (@patrickharvie) May 23, 2019
Scotland will send six MEPs to the European Parliament, although Brexit means it is unclear for how long they will have their jobs.
Two of the parties’ lead candidates have already served in Brussels and Strasbourg, with the SNP’s Alyn Smith and David Martin of Labour both putting themselves forward again.
Baroness Nosheena Mobarik is also hoping to return as a Conservative MEP for Scotland after taking on the job when her Tory predecessor Ian Duncan went to the House of Lords.
At the last European election in 2014, Scotland returned two SNP MEPs along with two Labour representatives, one Tory and one Ukip MEP.
— Willie Rennie (@willie_rennie) May 23, 2019
David Coburn, who was Scotland’s first elected Ukip politician, is not standing for re-election.
With the polls showing a slump in support for the Conservatives and Labour compared to five years ago, both the Scottish Greens and Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party are hoping to see their candidates elected.
Votes will not be counted until Sunday in most areas.
Counting takes place in the Western Isles on Monday morning, with the full Scottish results to be announced after that.
