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Voters in New Caledonia decide whether the French territory of the South Pacific must free itself from the European country that claimed it in the middle of the 19th century.
A Sunday referendum will mark a turning point in the process of decolonization of the archipelago and help define the future of New Caledonia as an independent country or as a permanent extension of France.
More than 174,000 registered voters are invited to answer the question: "Do you want New Caledonia to acquire full sovereignty and become independent?"
Observers expect a majority to favor maintaining part of France on the basis of opinion polls and the results of previous elections.
Polling stations open at 8 am (Saturday 10 pm in metropolitan France, 9 pm GMT) and close 10 hours later. Results are expected Sunday.
New Caledonia, a group of islands, has about 270,000 inhabitants. Among them, the Kanaks, who represent about 40% of the population, people of European descent (about 27%) and others from Asian countries and Pacific Islands.
He relies on France for defense, law enforcement, foreign affairs, justice and education, while enjoying broad autonomy. New Caledonia receives about 1.3 billion euros in French state subsidies every year, and many fear that the economy will suffer if links are broken.
The referendum is the result of a process begun 30 years ago to end the years of violence between supporters and opponents of the separation of France.
The violence, which claimed the lives of more than 70 people, led to an agreement reached in 1988 between loyalist and pro-independence rival factions. Another agreement, a decade later, called for a referendum on independence.
Most Kanaks tended to defend their independence, while most descendants of European settlers favored maintaining the French relationship.
To ensure security during the vote, additional police officers were sent to New Caledonia. The authorities also banned the carrying of firearms and the sale of alcohol immediately before and during the vote.
If voters refuse independence Sunday, the 1998 agreement allows for two referendums of self-determination by 2022.
