HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) — Bermudians are today voting in a referendum on same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Twelve polling stations across the island opened at 8:00 am (local time) with voters asked to answer two questions on the ballot – Are you in favour of same-sex marriage and are you in favour of civil unions?

Although the result will be non-binding, Premier Michael Dunkley on Wednesday said “Any outcome is the will of the people and will guide their elected officials accordingly”.

There are 44,367 Bermudians registered to vote in the referendum.

The two questions will only be considered “answered” if there is a voter turnout of 50 per cent or more.

Polling stations will close at 8:00 pm.

On Wednesday, campaigners on both sides of the debate continued to push their message as the clock ticked down to the big day.

A recent newspaper opinion poll suggested a majority of voters will oppose same-sex marriages but approve of civil unions.

Thursday’s voting marked Bermuda’s first referendum in almost 21 years.

The last was an independence referendum of August 16, 1995 , a troubled event, beginning with its hurried one-day postponement because of a near miss by Hurricane Felix, a Category 1 storm, on the night before the scheduled date of the poll.