The Athens City Council has called for a special election to be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, to allow residents to vote for or against the adoption of an ordinance outlawing abortion and declaring Athens a Sanctuary City for the Unborn.

This election comes after the City Council was presented with a petition signed by more than 15 percent of the registered voters in the City asking for the ordinance to be adopted.

The following proposition will appear on the ballot:

"AN ORDINANCE OUTLAWING ABORTION, DECLARING ATHENS A SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN, MAKING VARIOUS PROVISIONS AND FINDINGS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

Early voting in Athens will be at The Texan on the following dates and times:

- Oct. 24-28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Oct. 29 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

- Oct. 30 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

- Oct. 31 - Nov. 4 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting will also be available at Lakeview Assembly of God Church in Seven Points and First United Methodist Church in Chandler on the following dates and times:

- Oct. 24-28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Oct. 31-Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Nov. 4 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting will also be available at the Henderson County Larue Complex on the following dates and times:

- Oct. 24-28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Oct. 31-Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CLARIFICATION: Only residents of Athens who are registered voters can vote in a City of Athens election.

The City contracts with the Henderson County Elections Office to run our elections. Nov. 8 is a uniform election date so the county is conducting multiple elections this cycle, including county and precinct races. Because the county is running this election for Athens, city voters can cast their ballot in any of the county voting locations.

This election has been called as required by the City Charter in response to a certified petition.