The municipal election season is officially underway in Alabama as qualifying for candidates begins today.

Qualifying will end July 19.

The only qualification requirement for municipal elections is that the candidate has been a resident of the city for 90 days prior to the election, according to Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill.

Municipal elections will take place on August 23 for Troy, Brundidge, Goshen and Banks. Elections in each of the municipalities will include the offices of mayor and council members. The races are open, meaning candidates do not declare a party preference and no primary elections are held.

Residents looking to vote by absentee ballot will need to vote by August 18. Ballots should be ready within a week of the end of qualifying. Residents should contact their city clerk to request an absentee ballot or for more information about absentee voting.

Many candidates have already begun campaigning for seats on the Troy City Council. Veteran councilmembers Charlie “Sarge” Dunn in District 1 and Johnny Witherington in District 4 have announced that they will not be seeking reelection for their seats. Mayor Jason Reeves and council members Greg Meeks, Marcus Paramore and Dejerilyn King Henderson all have announced plans to seek re-election.

Robert Jones, owner of Crowe’s Chicken, is seeking to fill the District 1 seat.

“As an entrepreneur and business owner for the past 17 years and a lifelong resident of the city of Troy, I consider myself both blessed and privileged to live and work in our beautiful city,” he said.

“Over the years, I have had the opportunity to see change an growth in troy but realize there are a number of things that are needed to continue to progress and move our community forward, particularly in District 1.”

Also running for the District 1 seat is Anthony Jackson, who works with the Food Assistance Division for the Alabama Department of Human Resources, which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Jackson said he believes the opportunities he had to learn about different cultures and governments during his 11 years in the U.S. Navy have provided some of the skills required for effective political leadership.

Former District 5 councilmember Wanda Moultry announced last month that she will be running for the District 5 seat against incumbent councilmember Dejerilyn Henderson.

“Serving others is my purpose in life,” she said, adding that she served 16 years on the council and has served as director of Organized Community Action Program for seven years.

Three candidates in Brundidge have also begun campaigning for mayor, as longtime mayor Jimmy Ramage has announced that he will not be seeking reelection. The candidates are Charlie Harris of the Pike County Commission, Isabell Boyd of the Brundidge Planning Commission, Cynthia Pearson of the Brundidge City Council and Johnny Ross.