Long queues in first hours of crucial Catalan election

Catalans have flooded the polling stations across the country in the immediate hours after the vote started at 9am. Voters had to queue before casting their ballot in many sites. Polls have estimated a record-breaking turnout, with around 80% of voters expected to take part, an all-time high in a Catalan election. Turnout is one of the elements set make this election a historic one. In fact, the vote is taking part in unprecedented circumstances, with the Catalan government deposed by the Spanish authorities and some of its members in Brussels, while some others in prison.

The election day is crucial, as citizens are asked to have their say after this autumn’s high tension, with episodes including the police violence on October 1, the declaration of independence and the enforcement of direct rule of Catalonia from Madrid. There are two clear blocs running in the vote, the pro-independence and the unionist ones. In between, Catalonia in Common is non-aligned.

Turnout estimations will start to be facts from 1pm. At this time, the first voter turnout will be released, while the second one will be at 6pm, two hours before the polling stations close. These figures will be compared to the 2015 Catalan election and will show what the trend is.

While at 8pm an exit poll is published by Grupo Godó media corporation, citizens will have to wait until around 10pm to have more precise knowledge about the final election results. So far the results are difficult to call, because polls show uncertainty on whether pro-independence parties will keep the majority in the chamber.