Residents of Barcelona and other cities go to voting urns - the Spanish police respond with rubber bullets: how the referendum on the independence of one of the richest regions of Spain will end Photo: Flickr.com/ Ramon de Cal Benido On October 1, Catalonia holds a referendum on independence. Spanish police closed 1.3 thousand - more than half - polling stations that were equipped in school buildings. But Madrid wants it or not - the vote will take place.