These women diligently prepare the ballots hours before Ukraine's Crimea referendum on whether or not to join Russia.

The results are widely expected to transfer control of the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine to Moscow -- that's despite the threat of sanctions and condemnation from Western governments.

Voter turnout is expected to be high.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LOCAL REFERENDUM COMMISSIONER, ZHANNA YAKOVLEVNA, SAYING:

"We don't even think that people may not come. They will express their will. And I believe that Tatars of Crimea will also vote in favor or against (joining Russia). If they want to stay in Ukraine, we will count their votes. If not, we'll count them too. We will count everything they will vote for."

The Head of Crimea's Referendum Commission.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HEAD OF CRIMEA'S REFERENDUM COMMISSION, MIKHAIL MALYSHEV, SAYING:

"Everything is ready to give Crimeans tomorrow an opportunity to speak about their vision of the situ