City commissioners on Tuesday unanimously rejected a request by a local peace group to place a question on the Nov. 7 ballot urging the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Commissioners said they understood the desire of the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice to place an advisory question on the ballot but said the request came too close to the election and that state law did not easily allow for such a nonbinding election.

Last-minute research by the Douglas County Clerk’s Office was presented to city commissioners Tuesday that included an attorney general’s opinion indicating the nonbinding Iraq question would have to be on a separate ballot from the official questions for voters.

One separate poll worker for each of 49 Lawrence precincts also would have to be hired to oversee the advisory ballots. Poll workers are paid $85 per day, according to information from the clerk’s office.