A minute's silence was held at the Eastern regional count to honour MP Jo Cox who died last week after being shot and stabbed outside her constituency surgery.
Labour MEP Richard Howitt, who worked with her in Brussels, said she was a very special individual.
He said: 'I'm realty thankful that her memory is being honoured in the middle of something that is of such enormity.
'If this is about democracy it's important that we honour the service of democratically elected politicians.'
Mr Howitt said he thought there had been too much cynicism in the campaign and he deeply regretted that.
'Even in public meetings since Jo's death there has still been heckling and accusations. I think the lessons have not been fully learnt less than a week since her death.'
He added: 'Labour will respect the result and work to heal the divisions.'
Members of the Leave campaign gathered at the side of the Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford quietly looking at their phones.
Meanwhile a pair of Remain agents paced about the venue sipping coffee. Director for Vote Leave in the East, Jamie Moyies, said he believed the referendum result would be close.
Mr Moyies said: 'We are looking for a really good result here in the East, and a balance elsewhere.'
When asked about Nigel Farage's tweet saying he believed that Remain had 'edged it,' Mr Moyies said: 'It's all done and dusted now, we just have to wait for the result.'
The regional returning officer Steve Packham said results from Breckland could be delayed by an hour as people were stranded in a polling station, remarking afterwards 'happy days'.
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