Hungarians are voting in a referendum on an EU-imposed migrant quota. Some eight million people are expected to go to the polls throughout the day. A minimum of 50 percent either for or against is required for a conclusive decision. Preliminary results are expected an hour after polls close.

The EU passed a decision earlier to distribute the first 100,000 or so migrants among its members. Hungary is one of the few countries opposing the plan.

Its Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been known as a hard-liner against opening EU borders to refugees. He hopes the referendum will provide the public support needed to oppose any similar future EU plans. Orban says the EU needs to strengthen its borders to keep out migrants.

Last year Hungary built fences on its southern borders with Serbia and Croatia.