The Latest: Votes cast at referendum flashpoint site
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The Latest on the regional elections in Catalonia (all times local):
10:45 a.m.
Sergi Balateu, a 37-year-old marketing director, voted in Catalonia's regional election at Barcelona's Ramon Llull school, where less than three months ago police in riot gear used force to stop him and others voting in an independence referendum.
The Spanish government said the referendum called by pro-independence parties was illegal and sent police to stop it. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy fired the regional government and dissolved the Catalan parliament, calling the snap regional election that is taking place Thursday.
Balateu said he voted for Together For Catalonia, which wants the region to secede.