Laporta votes early with big turnout expected

The huge interest in this year’s Barcelona presidential elections looks as if it is going to guarantee a big turnout at the polls.

The long, and at times controversial campaign, with the added interest of the possible arrival of David Beckham should Joan Laporta be elected, meant that the polls were doing brisk business when they opened at 9am.

There were plenty of early risers in town and 2,947 Barcelona club members (socios) cast their votes in the first hour (3.12% of those enfranchised) and that number increased between the hours of 10 and 11 when a further 4,204 votes were cast, including that of Laporta, who voted at 10.05am.

“It’s a historic day for the club,” he said, refusing to elaborate on the Beckham situation until after the result is declared. “First we have to win and then we will try to get him [Beckham] to come,” he added.

All in all 7,151 votes (7.58% of the total) had been cast in the first two hours and that number will increase rapidly before midday when the pace of voting will probably slow down before picking up in the late afternoon.

The polls close at 9pm Spanish time.