Britons from the far Scottish isles to the tip of Gibraltar began casting their ballots Thursday in a historic referendum that could rock the global economy and deeply unsettle the Western political order.<br />After months of bitter campaigning that sharply divided the country over questions of immigration and identity, election day dawned with a cliffhanger: Final polls showed Britons almost exactly split over whether the country should exit the 28-member European Union.<br />Although “leave” had been leading the polls recently, “remain” has caught up since pro-E.U. member of Parliament Jo Cox was fatally shot and stabbed last week, jolting the country and prompting calls for an end to some of the campaign’s more hateful rhetoric.<br />The referendum marks an existential decision that could dramatically reshape Britain’s global role in a way not seen since London shed its empire after World War II.
