Schools call on citizens to ensure polling stations remain open on referendum day

The Catalan educational community is taking very real steps to ensure that citizens be able to vote on October 1. A new website has been opened, called Open Schools, or Escoles Obertes, a project that aims to make the image of crowds lined up to vote in front of the ballot boxes into a reality. Indeed, it also acts as a demonstration against the planned shutting down and guarding of schools and other polling stations, and in favor of democracy.

Police to seal off polling stations and block entry

The movement was born in light of Spain’s announcement that it’s taking control of the Catalan Police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, with the planned order that the police seal off sites to be used as polling stations with a perimeter of 100 meters. Additionally, the law enforcement officers are to investigate anyone who manages to get inside.

Find a polling station

The Open School website has two main functions: the first, to provide those who are interested with their nearest polling station, as divided by police precinct. It also allows citizens to sign up to “open their schools,” to give them a chance to participate. According to the website, 6,000 people have already given their email. While it remains unclear just how this participation will take place, the organization has also listed some instructions for those who have given their email.