The citizens of Las Torres de Cotillas are called to speak out on the planned biomethane and biofertilizer production plant in the municipality through a referendum The date and guidelines for the event have already been set. The City Council has published the decree regulating the process and is preparing a pre-event information campaign so that all details are clear for participation.
On voting day, a direct yes or no question will be asked: Do you agree with the Installation of a biomethane and biofertilizer production plant from organic waste in Las Torres de Cotillas? According to the council, work has been done to ensure a procedure with legal guarantees and with independent academic supervision.
When and where to vote
The consultation will be held on December 14 between 10: 00 and 18: 00 hours in the locations and tables designated by the City Council. The municipal decree specifies that the organization of the event and the layout of tables will be carried out by public personnel and an independent monitoring committee.
In order for the result to represent the will of the residents, the decree establishes that only the votes will be taken into account issued as yes or no, excluding null or blank votes, and that the expression of the will of the municipality will require a participation greater than 35% of the eligible census.
Who can participate
Anyone can vote adult on the date of the consultation that is registered in the register of residents of Las Torres de Cotillas. This includes those who have Spanish nationality, citizens of the European Union and foreigners from third countries with legal residence in Spain.
The list of people with the right to vote can be consulted at the Town Hall of October 28th to 31th, from 10:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m., a period in which complaints about the data may be filed. This prior census consultation is key to correct incidents before the vote.
Required Documentation
To prove identity and the right to vote, the decree specifies the required documentation depending on each case, both in early voting and on the day of the consultation.
- Spanish citizens: DNI, passport or driver's license.
- Citizens of the European Union: Certificate of the Registration of EU Citizens and passport or identity document from the country of origin.
- Non-EU foreigners with legal residence: Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) and passport with photo.
Early voting and safekeeping of envelopes
The City Council enables early voting, replacing voting by mail, for the days November 28 and 29 and December 1, 2 and 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m., at the City Council's General Secretariat. This option is intended to facilitate participation for those unable to attend on December 14.
According to the decree, early voting envelopes will be under custody of the General Secretariat until the vote count. This point has sparked debate, as the opposition has warned of the need to additional control mechanisms during that period of custody.
Guarantees, tables and academic supervision
The organization of the tables includes a president and two members appointed from among public employees of the City Council or any administration based in the Region of Murcia. This is a common composition in consultation processes local level.
The consultation will have a monitoring commission composed of teachers from the University of Murcia, responsible for supervising the development of the process. In addition, the City Council will promote a Information campaign institutional from November 12 to 26 to explain the rules and encourage informed participation.
Political debate and calls for more controls
The Socialist Municipal Group has questioned the decree, arguing that it concentrates reception, custody, and counting functions in the General Secretariat. In its view, this accumulation should be corrected with independent observers, controlled custody, and counting with multiple attendees.
Among the criticisms is the period during which early votes could remain in custody before the count, which the opposition estimates between 11 and 16 daysThe PSOE has announced that it will study legal and political actions to strengthen guarantees without altering the date of the consultation.
Calendar, public information and institutional positioning
The City Council will enable spaces for events and debates, as well as to post information on public roads during the institutional campaign. The government team's stated intention is for the vote to be binding and with the proper guarantees, after administrative procedures that, they acknowledge, have extended the deadlines.
The mayor's office emphasizes that the objective is to execute the decision of the citizens of Las Torres de Cotillas within the legal framework. Meanwhile, part of the opposition is demanding adjustments in the operation to ensure more transparency and security in the custody and counting of the votes.
With the question and procedure already defined, attention turns to December 14, participación reached and in the interpretation of the result once the 35% threshold is exceeded. Residents have a calendar, requirements and detailed documentation to decide their position on the biogas plant and do so with as much information as possible.
