Troy residents will head to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to allow alcohol to be sold within city limits on Sundays after noon.

The city council voted to hold the referendum earlier this year and got approval from the State Legislature to schedule the vote.

Proponents say that allowing sales on Sunday will help attract more economic development to the city and offers more freedom to citizens while opponents say that Sundays should continue to be set apart from the consumption of alcohol.

Residents on both sides can express their views Tuesday at the polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The sole question on the ballot will be: “Do you favor the adoption of Act No. 2017-309, of the regular session of the Alabama Legislature authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages after 12:00 p.m. on Sundays in the City of Troy?” Residents will be able to answer “Yes” or “No.”

If passed the council will not be authorized to allow for sales before noon on Sundays, but could further limit the sale of alcohol on Sundays via ordinance.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Friday, October 6 at 5 p.m. To request an absentee ballot, residents can visit city clerk Alton Starling’s office at City Hall. Requests may also be made in writing.

In order to vote absentee, a qualified voter must:

• be out of the county or state on Election Day,

• have a physical illness or infirmity which prevents his or her attendance at the polls, whether he or she is within or outside the county on the day of election,

• work a shift which has at least 10 hours which coincide with the hours the polls are open at his or her regular polling place,

• be enrolled as a student at an educational institution located outside the county of his or her personal residence which prevents his or her attendance at the polls,

• be a member of, or spouse or dependent of a member of, the armed forces of the United States or be similarly qualified to vote absentee pursuant to the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973ff, or

• have been appointed as an election officer or named as a poll watcher at a polling place other than his or her regular polling place.

The polling places for the election are as follows:

• District 1 – Troy Public Library

• District 2 – National Guard Armory

• District 3 – Troy Parks and Recreation Facility

• District 4 – First Baptist Church Activities Building

• District 5 – Pike County Courthouse