Voters in Scotland turned up at polling stations to find that people had already voted using their names, according to Daily Mail of UK.
Glasgow City Council confirmed that there had been 10 instances where people had gone to vote and found their names had already been crossed off the list.
Spokesman Colin Edgar said: “We’ve had a number of suggestions across the course of the day that people have turned up at the polling station to vote and they appear to have voted already.
“This is impersonation, if it turns out to be what it is.”
On Thursday night, police officers were present at the count to remove the ballot papers and keep them as evidence.
The papers were from 10 different boxes across Glasgow, and not concentrated in one area.
Stewart Hosie, Scotland National Party (SNP) Treasury spokesman at Westminster, said it was “very sad that people feel the need to engage in any kind of impersonation.”
He said: “I think that’s a daft thing to do. The ballot papers have been identified, they will be taken away and fingerprinted, the police will do their job and I’m sure whoever has done it will be caught and sentenced.
“That’s the correct procedure. It won’t change the result but of course it shouldn’t have happened, it is a silly, silly, thing for anyone to try to do.”
The investigation came as thousands of independence supporters waving Saltires gathered at George Square in the city centre.
Nationalists lit a flare in the public space, which had been renamed ‘Independence Square’ and has become a focus point in recent days.
The gathering was mostly friendly and police said in the early hours there had been no arrests.
Scots with Saltires painted on their faces did the conga and sang songs including Flower of Scotland.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police Scotland takes the safety and security of the Independence Referendum extremely seriously and is working with partner agencies including local authorities to ensure the integrity of the ballot.
“Any crime committed will be investigated appropriately.’
Mr Edgar added that the ‘first vote went in the box’ but the second attempt to vote was stopped when the individual was identified as having been already ticked off the list.
He said: “The second voter was given what is known as a ‘tendered ballot’ which is like a ballot paper but it doesn’t get counted, so you can express a preference but it doesn’t get counted.”
He said there was no indication as to which answer the allegedly fraudulent votes were cast towards but that would not be revealed as ‘the ballots are secret’.
He added: “No crime has been committed until an investigation has been completed and somebody has been prosecuted and found guilty.”
Meanwhile, world markets rallied on Friday as Scotland’s decision to stay in the United Kingdom lifted Europe and got investors over the latest in a recent run of tricky global political hurdles.
Scotland voted to remain in the UK by 55 per cent to 45 per cent, a clear outcome likely to bring relief to a number of countries in Europe, particularly Spain, which is facing similar secessionist pressures in Catalonia.
Sterling initially surged to a two-week high against the dollar and a two-year peak against the euro before losing some steam, while London’s FTSE share index and Spanish stocks and bonds jumped.
Global shares were already heading towards their fifth weekly gain in the last six. They have been boosted by further assurances this week that interest rates are likely to remain at record lows in many major economies for some time.
News that Chinese internet giant Alibaba priced its IPO at $68 a share on Thursday, the top end of the expected range to raise $21.8 billion in one of the world’s largest-ever stock offerings, also supported the market.
“I am happy today, risk is back on, everybody is happy today,” said Geir Lode, head of global equities for fund manager Hermes in London. “We have Scotland, Alibaba is huge – what could be better?”
The vote not only keeps Britain intact but also reduces the likelihood of its leaving the European Union, potentially a much greater risk for markets and something Scottish independence might well have precipitated, analysts said.
The pound’s bounce against the dollar was not as large as some had predicted though and it had retreated to $1.6386 as US. trading began.
But it remained strong against some of the other major currencies, hitting a two-year high of 78.10 pence per euro and a six-year high of 180.70 yen.
In a related development, British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday pledged that Scotland will have more power over its affairs, and England, Wales and Northern Ireland must “have a bigger say’’ over theirs as well.
“We have heard the voice of Scotland and now the millions of voices of England must not go ignored,’’ Cameron said.
The Prime Minister called for moment that everyone “comes together to build that better, brighter future for our entire United Kingdom.’’
Before his speech, Cameron also spoke with Alex Salmond, Scottish First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP).
Cameron said he was delighted that the SNP would join talks on further devolution.
The Deputy British Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said he was “absolutely delighted’’ that the Scottish people had taken this momentous decision to safeguard “our family of nations.’’
“A vote against independence was not a vote against change, and we must deliver on time and in full the package of new powers to Scotland.
“The independence referendum has led to demand for constitutional reform across the UK.
“People want power in their own hands, not hoarded in Westminster.
“In a dangerous and uncertain world I have no doubt we are stronger, safer, and more prosperous together than we ever could be apart,’’ the deputy prime minister noted.
Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said the UK was stronger today than it was yesterday, adding that he was delighted and proud that the people of Scotland had made this historic decision to stay.
