This 13-Word Paper Ballot Will Decide Scotland's Future

A simple "yes" or "no" will suffice.

ByCALVIN LAWRENCE Jr.
September 18, 2014, 1:30 PM

— -- The Scots wasted no words when they settled on language for the ballot used to determine whether they'll break away from the United Kingdom: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

"Vote (X) only once," the white-paper referendum reads. Yes or No. That's it: 13 words in total.

Such simplicity belies the potentially complex future that awaits Scotland if a simple majority of its citizens decides they want to strike out on their own, which could be thousands of pen marks away from reality.

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events