Scotland joined the rest of the UK in voting in the European elections, as Labour braced for a potentially embarrassing result amid the growing call for the Prime Minister to stand down.
The polls closed at 10pm on Thursday. The wait to learn the outcome begins.
The results will not be announced until Sunday night, after polls close in other countries across the Continent. The timetable means a nail-biting wait for Gordon Brown.
Early signs pointed to a low turnout in Scotland, with voting across Glasgow said to be no higher than seven per cent by 2pm.
Polling was said to be quiet in other areas and some observers speculated turnout could reach a new low of below 25%. Turnout in the previous Euro vote, in 2004, was 30.9%, and 24.7% in 1999.
Labour's lead candidate in Scotland, David Martin, admitted his party could be overtaken by the SNP. He also warned the party UK-wide faced "a very bad day" when votes are counted, possibly emerging with as few as ten seats in England.
Casting his vote in Glasgow, Mr Martin said the mood on the doorstep was for disenchanted Labour voters to stay at home, rather than switch to another party.
He said: "My prediction is that the SNP probably will come out with the largest share of the vote, because Labour voters have stayed at home."
Of the situation UK-wide he said: "It's only second-hand, but from speaking to colleagues south of the border I think it's going to be a very bad day for Labour on Sunday.
"We could be down as low as ten or 11 seats in England, perhaps 14 overall in the UK - we are currently 19."
Labour sources sought to downplay the significance of being overtaken by the SNP - the goal that Alex Salmond has set for the Nationalists. They argued this happened before in the 2007 Holyrood elections, and that the SNP had come only a whisker behind Labour in the 1999 European elections.
Voters went to the polls after a campaign dominated by events at Westminster.
With Scotland's tally of Euro seats falling from seven to six, the campaign was already destined to be a game of political musical chairs even before the row over Westminster MPs' expenses.
A total of 72 candidates are vying to become Scotland's six Euro MPs.
The full result for Scotland will not be known until Monday when the Western Isles result is announced.
Casting her vote in Glasgow, SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said a vote for the SNP would boost Scotland's voice in Europe and add to pressure for a UK election.
"The UK Government is disintegrating before our eyes," she said. "The country is not being governed by anyone, and we need to have strong leadership at all levels of government just now, so it's time for a general election."
The Liberal Democrats' lead candidate in Scotland, George Lyon, said: "Liberal Democrats are in confident mood.
"The Labour Party is in freefall, drifting from one crisis to the next."
The Tories announced that they will use their Holyrood debating slot next Thursday to call for a Westminster general election.
Tory leader Annabel Goldie said: "Britain is crying out for change at Westminster and the clamour for a general election grows by the day."
Scotland is one of 12 voting constituencies across the UK. In addition to the Euro vote, England and Wales are conducting local elections.
Number-crunchers will get a taste of how the voting public are leaning sooner than Sunday. English council and mayoral results will be announced on Friday.
YOUR VIEW OF THE EU
Here's what he said:
"Europe is not a question of left or right, but a question of the future or the past, of strength or weakness." -Tony Blair
But what do you think?
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Last updated: 04 June 2009, 19:55
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