title: Ballot boxes, voting papers appear at some polling stations for Catalan referendum
text: BARCELONA (Reuters) - Ballot boxes and voting papers were being set out at some voting stations in Catalonia in preparation for Sunday s planned referendum on splitting from Spain, local media said, despite Spanish authorities declaring the vote illegal. Catalonia s TV3 showed ballot boxes and voting papers ready at one polling station in a Barcelona suburb. La Vanguardia newspaper reported that the first ballot boxes had arrived in several centers. Voting is due to start at 9 A.M. (0700 GMT) but it is unclear if police will allow it to go ahead. 