As Catalonia prepares for a vote which could redraw the map of Spain, Jon Henley goes in search of ordinary people's stories

Catalonia is preparing to vote in an election that could determine not just its future, but the shape of Spain and, perhaps, even the European Union.

The Generalitat, or autonomous government, polls – which have been called early after the Spanish prime minister refused even to discuss Catalonia's demands to collect its taxes – will in effect be a plebiscite on whether the region has a future within Spain.

The Catalan leader, Artur Mas, has pledged that if, as expected, his centre-right nationalist alliance is returned as the largest bloc in the 135-seat parliament, and successfully forms a majority with other pro-independence parties, he will call a referendum on whether the region should become an independent state.

Since Madrid insists that a Catalan referendum violates Spain's 1978 constitution, and that it will use the full force of the law to prevent one, the stage seems set for a showdown.

In the runup to this critical election on 25 November, I will be in Catalonia next week trying to find out how ordinary people feel about independence, and what impact they think it may have on their lives – and I need your help.

Previous such trips, to Greece, for example, have yielded remarkable individual stories which have provided a unique insight into the mood of the people behind the headlines.

As before, I'll be tweeting pictures along the way – using the hashtag #cataloniatales – as well as blogging interviews with the people I meet.

So I'm counting on you to contact me either with your story and views, or with suggestions of other people whose stories and views may be worth telling.

If you would rather not meet in person, please do send me a brief personal take on the independence question and I will post as much of it as I can on the blog.

You can reach me on Twitter @jonhenley, or email at jon.henley@theguardian.com. Thanks!