> it's not even clear how to decide who is Catalan enough to have a vote in this.

All residents in Catalonia have the right to vote in this referendum, regardless of their origin. So your comment is basically empty.

The fact that it is how this referendum was designed doesn't mean it's fair.

E.g. why would a foreigner that's been living in Catalonia for a few weeks, and plans to move away within a month to never return, have more of a say than a Catalan that spent 40 years there but had to move abroad two months ago in search of a job?

That's not how it works. You might want to read about it before having an opinion on a straw man.

For the record: Spaniards living in Catalonia for at least 6 months can vote. Foreigners can't, like in General or Regional elections.

I was basing it on what the parent commenter said. I can't really tell if he's in the wrong or you are because, as you said, I haven't looked it up myself.

Even with your version my fairness argument stands. How is it fair that a Catalan expat isn't allowed to vote, and an Andalusian that might be there just for a few months is? Expats are certainly allowed to vote in General elections.

I'm a Catalan expat and I voted already from where I am. There's a census of Spaniards living abroad. If you were there you could sign up to vote.

Ok that's better than if only currently-residing people were allowed to vote. The argument stands for Catalans living elsewhere in Spain.

But I grant that "you're allowed to vote if you can vote in the General elections as a resident of one of the four Catalan provinces" is probably as fair as one can practically get when designing this.

Catalans living elsewhere in Spain are out of luck, which seems to be due to current Estatut (if I read right) and I guess logistic challenges.