Venice Votes in Referendum on Seceding from Italy

Voting has began in a referendum on whether Venice and its surrounding region should secede from the rest of Italy, Sunday.

Recent opinion polls suggest that two-thirds of the four million electorate favour splitting from Rome in an attempt to restore its 1,000-year history as a sovereign republic. However, the vote will not be legally binding, the BBC News reports.

The poll was organised by local activists and parties, who want a future state called Republic of Veneto.

As many as two million people are expected to take part in the online voting which is due to continue until Friday.