The relationship between repression and political mobilization remains debated. This study examines police interventions during Catalonia's independence referendum on 1 October 2017, analyzing their impact on turnout through detailed aggregate data and a post-referendum survey.

Police Actions & Turnout Effects

The intervention had mixed consequences:

* Locally negative: Reduced voter turnout near intervention sites

* Regionally positive: Increased turnout in surrounding areas due to spillover effects

Implications for Political Science Understanding

Our findings reveal a counterintuitive dynamic: while police actions discouraged local voting, they paradoxically spurred participation elsewhere. This highlights the complex interplay between repression and political engagement.