Compliments of the BBC
A record 46,499,537 people are entitled to take part, according to provisional figures from the Electoral Commission.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 BST and will close at 22:00 BST.
It is only the third nationwide referendum in UK history and comes after a four-month battle for votes between the Leave and Remain campaigns.
In common with other broadcasters, the BBC is limited in what it can report while polls are open but you can follow the results as they come in across the BBC after polls close on Thursday evening.
The referendum ballot paper asks the following question: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”
Whichever side gets more than half of all votes cast is considered to have won.
The weather forecast for polling day is mixed.
There have been thunderstorms in London and south-east England which caused flooding overnight.
Kingston upon Thames Council in south west London has moved two polling stations after they were inundated with water.
Image copyrightAFP/GETTY
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
