With the country divided and arguments getting more confusing by the day, we asked Stylist readers if they know which way they’ll be voting in the EU referendum

Words: Zoë Beaty

It’s been the defining debate of summer 2016. Hell, make that 2016, period. The historic referendum on Britain’s status as a member of the EU, taking place on Thursday, has ignited pub disputes, produced brand new family feuds and muted a thousand WhatsApp groups. The last few months have played out like a parody, with David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn agreeing on something (that we should stay put) while Boris and sister Rachel Johnson have fought head to head.

The ‘Brexit flotilla’ – a fleet of fishing boats on the River Thames led by Nigel Farage and the Leave campaign, with Sir Bob Geldof and pals from the Remain camp hot on their tail – became just another Wednesday.

Everyone from Barack Obama, who warned us to stay put, to Dame Joan Collins, who thinks we should leave, has had their say. It was no surprise the debate went global, but who knew we’d also be hearing from the likes of Matt Damon?

It’s not inflated to say that, amid the earnest Facebook posts, TV debates and celebrity conjecture, it all got slightly out of hand. Claims became ludicrous (including one that a Remain vote will cause UK Indian restaurants to close and another that pigs would vote to stay in) and most of us got increasingly confused by what to believe in a debate based on speculative what-ifs.

But it’s still essential that you vote. With one million more women than men eligible to cast a ballot, Britain’s female electorate has the potential power to decide. Yet, the London School of Economics found that more than one quarter of women hadn’t made up their minds. And there’s only a few hours to go until the final deadline.

So instead of quizzing random celebrities and puffed-up politicians, we decided to ask you how you’ll vote and why. Seven hundred Stylist readers replied, 77% of whom know how they’ll vote, with 59% opting to remain in the EU. But 23% of you either don’t know, or aren’t voting, so there’s still a lot to play for. Scroll down to see if these readers can help you make up your mind…

The great Brexit bamboozle: we asked Stylist readers which way they’ll be voting in the EU referendum