Questions and answers about the new 9N

"There will be polling stations, ballots and boxes". This is the vow that Catalan president Artur Mas made during a statement on Tuesday, when he explained his alternative to the 9N consultation as it was understood until Monday evening, when it became apparent that the sovereignty bloc couldn't agree on an alternative plan (i.e. which path should be taken once the Spanish Constitutional Court had blocked the referendum). Below are the questions and answers to the alternative plan that president Mas outlined in his appearance, which lasted two hours.

Who will be entitled to vote?

As the president himself admitted, his decree of September 27 is now useless. "It is impossible to hold the consultation based on that decree", he pointed out on Tuesday. His government had already decided not to publish the census due to the "legal uncertainties" that this would bring and Mas added that it would have been "ridiculous" to use a census that included people who disagree with the process. What will the government do to ensure a good turnout? Voters --aged 16 and over-- will have to register with their ID at the polling station on the day of the consultation. Catalans who live abroad but whose ID shows an address in Catalonia will also be allowed to vote. In fact, those with the right to vote are "at the very least" the same as in the decree of the original 9N referendum.

What body will oversee the vote?

Mas announced the setup of a general council of participation that will guarantee the "transparency" of the process. The plan for the original consultation was to have a Controlling Committee of seven jurists (six after the resignation of Joaquim Brugué, whose name was suggested by ICV-EUiA) and local subcommittees. Mas stated that he won't be signing any further decrees and was cagey about the logistic details: "I don't want to give away any clues because we all know what they're like". He was talking about the State and its attitude towards the consultation, which was appealed as soon as the first decree was signed.

When will we know the result of the vote?

Mas said that "provisional" results would be available on November 10, the day after the vote. That's when the ballot count will be completed. The voting will be monitored by means of a computer programme.

How many volunteers are needed?

Mas mentioned that 20,000 volunteers would be needed for the vote's machinery to work. Volunteers will man the polling places all over the nation.

What will the legal framework be?

The president merely stated that the government will set up the 9N vote on a "pre-existing legal framework" that grants the Catalan government "power" to hold a consultation. Mas referred to the powers devolved to Catalonia on the "promotion of citizens' participation". These days several CiU leaders have mentioned that the law of consultations passed by the Catalan parliament on September 19 has not been suspended in its entirety and Section 3 could be used to consult the public.

Section 3 deals with the so-called "processes of citizens' participation", understood as "institutional events aimed at promoting and facilitating the public's intervention in the orientation or definition of public policy", according to the text of the bill passed in parliament.

Where will the voting take place?

Artur Mas stated that that government-owned buildings will serve as polling stations. This was a concern with the original format of the consultation, as some councils run by the PSC or the PP were reluctant to cooperate. Months ago, the government had prepared a list of alternative sites to be used as polling places. The questions printed on the ballot will remain the same as for the original 9N vote: "Do you want Catalonia to become a State?" and "If so, do you want this State to be independent?"

Do all parties support it?

Mas emphasised that this initiative was not met with the sovereignty bloc's unanimous approval. "They don't agree with it, but will offer their support", he added. According to the president, these were the last words said at the Monday summit in Palau de Pedralbes.

Why is this an "early" consultation?

Mas regards the 9N vote as such because the next Catalan election will be of a plebiscitary nature, "with a joint candidature and manifesto". This would be called as an ordinary election, but the parties' attitude would turn it into a plebiscite. Not all parties agree with this idea.

Is November 9 a feasible date?

Legal sources approached by this newspaper suggested on Monday that there are three processes of participation regulated by the law of consultations. None of them were appealed by the Spanish government and, therefore, they remain in place: participation forums, opinion polls and public audiences. However, this would change "the logic" of the process and might even mean postponing the date, as the law requires a period of "no less than 30 days" for changes to be made in these processes.

Will the Spanish government take action?

Last Friday Spanish vice president Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría stated that they would also seek to block an alternative consultation on November 9. The legal dispute remains unresolved.