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If the southerns voted for independence, Sudan would enter a six-month transition period when the north and south would negotiate on thorny issues including border demarcation, the status of the oil-rich Abyei region, as well as the division of the national debts and oil revenue.
Almost 4 million people registered for the referendum, 95 percent of whom live in south Sudan, while others live in the north and eight countries including Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the U.S.A.
John Kerry, chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, told Xinhua while he observed the voting process, "I'm very excited. It's very important. I hope it will be a peaceful referendum."
Asked about the controversial issues including border, oil and Abyei, Kerry said, "I think the controversial issues can be resolved within the six-month transition period as we work in good faith."
Around 17,000 local observers together with 1,200 foreign observers are currently monitoring the south Sudan referendum to assess its compliance with the international standards.
Trained polling staff directed voters to check their identity cards and illustrated how to cast ballots as 92 percent of the southern residents are illiterate. Young men and women wearing shirts with slogans "Vote peacefully" and "Vote for freedom" marched in Juba streets.