Scottish Independence: Expat Scots can Only Watch from Afar

With no time left for the Scotland referendum, the issue of whether Scottish expatriates should be allowed to participate in the independence vote to decide the country's future has also sparked a massive debate.

 As many as 1.15 million Scots who live abroad will not be able to vote Thursday, missing out on being able to take part in one of the biggest events in generations, BBC reports.

On September 18, 2014, Scotland will vote to decide whether to break away from the United Kingdom.

Many high-profile campaigners like expat Scot actor Sean Connery - who is a pro-independence activist - would only be able to watch from the sidelines, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.   

The European Union guarantees free movement of citizens, but those of Scottish diaspora are becoming increasingly concerned that they might become illegal immigrants if the "Yes" side wins and the EU blocks moves for it to become a member.

Since the expats have no power to question the legality of the decision, they have taken to social media to voice express agony.

"As a true-born Scot and at present living outside Scotland I have been denied a vote on the future of HOME," wrote one poster on the Facebook page of the campaign group. "Extend Scottish Independence Referendum vote to all Scottish Citizens," another post read.

"Every evening I'm on the iPhone in the campsite. I read the Guardian online then scroll down, reading the comments. But I feel I have forfeited my right to have a say," Sharon Hall, 42, who is originally from Fife, told BBC.

Meanwhile, anticipating a rise in demand by Scots to withdraw cash in case of a "Yes" victory, Britain's banks have been quietly transferring millions of banknotes north of the border to avoid any crisis, The Independent reports.