Few Temple voters cast their ballots Tuesday, but the majority of those who did are in favor of allowing liquor to be sold by the drink in the city’s restaurants.

Of the city’s 2,290 registered voters, only 370, or 16.16 percent, cast ballots — 199 voters, or 54 percent, voted in favor of the referendum. Those voting against the measure totaled 166 with one absentee ballot also voting against the issue.

“I’m disappointed in the turnout, especially on an important issue like this,” Mayor Rick Ford said. “However, I think the council absolutely did the right thing by letting the people vote on the issue because that’s the democratic process.”

The City Council voted 3-2 in April to put the referendum on the primary ballot. Councilman Jay Mann, who voted in favor of putting the issue on the ballot, later said he misunderstood and believed after the referendum the issue would come back to the council for the final decision and vowed to campaign against the measure. After the results were in Tuesday, Mann said the final result was about what he expected and he would join the council in carrying out the will of the people.

“I think I made my opinion clear in my closing remarks during council meetings and everybody I came in contact with I told to be sure and vote and that I was against it,” Mann said.

“I’m disappointed that it passed, but in the same respect the citizens who stepped up to the polls voiced their opinion and that’s why we live in the great democracy that we do. We live in a democratic society where the majority vote is the ruling factor and at the end of the day the people have decided and I will have to govern accordingly.”

The issue will now be sent back to the City Council, which will set up the guidelines applicants will have to follow to receive a permit to sell liquor. Ford said there would likely be a special called meeting to work out those details, but wasn’t yet sure of a timeline to do so.

“Now it’s incumbent on the council to draft an ordinance to set the guidelines for the applicants and the application process,” Ford said.

The city already allows restaurants to serve beer and wine by the drink and beer package sales at convenience and grocery stores.

Currently, restaurants serving beer and wine must have 65 percent of their gross receipts in food sales. There is only one restaurant with a beer and wine license currently in Temple — El Tapatio’s, which joined local developer Fred Mortenson in pushing for the referendum.