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Austro Scots to vote in independence poll

The Local Austria
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Austro Scots to vote in independence poll
Edinburgh Castle is currently British - but that could all change next week. Photo: Kim Traynor/Wikimedia

While soldiers of the legendary Scots Guards stationed outside Scotland are excluded from voting in their homeland's upcoming independence referendum, 1,300 Austrians have registered to have a say in their adoptive country's future.

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Five million people in Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow and the North Sea islands will head to the polls next Thursday to vote on whether to separate from the mother country.

The main requirement for eligibility is residency. Among those taking part in the ballot are 1,300 Austrians, 13,000 German and 4,300 French natives all currently living in Scotland.

There is no indication as to the preferences of the Austro Scots.

Harry Miltner, who runs a sports consulting agency in Vienna, has already made his decision.

 "The heart says yes, but the brain says no, so it will be a 'no'," says Miltner. "Self-determination requires many things. Our geographical position is less than optimal, and we would probably lose the Shetlands and Orkneys."

"The last polls published before the predict a neck-and-neck race. It will be exciting to see the result."

Meanwhile, The Local Sweden is asking expat Scots their views on the upcoming referendum.

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