Vote on Liquor Sales Is Cleared for Ark. Ballot

(CN) - Arkansas voters should have the final say on whether liquor sales should be legal statewide, the state Supreme Court ruled.

In a unanimous opinion, the Arkansas Supreme Court denied the petition to strike a liquor sales initiative from the November ballot.

Citizens for Local Rights had filed the action challenging "Issue 4" with the Supreme Court back on September 5. The group challenged the timeliness and sufficiency of the measure, titled the "Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Amendment."

In her opinion, by Associate Justice Karen Baker dispense with objections to the ballot title, holding, "It is sufficient for the title to be complete enough to convey and intelligible idea of the scope and import of the proposed law."

"Here, the ballot title gives the voter a fair understanding of intoxicating liquors and specifically defines intoxicating liquors in a manner that is clear to encompass mixed drinks," she wrote. "Further, the amendment makes clear to voters that alcohol may be sold anywhere in the state."

Thus, she said the plaintiff failed to meet the burden of proving the ballot title insufficient.

The justices also denied a challenge of the basis of the timeliness of the proposal's filing.

"We conclude that while inside the voting booth, the voters will be able to reach an intelligent and informed decision for or against," Baker wrote.

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