I’ll be watching the Arkansas Supreme Court building for a sign today of a decision in the appeal of a lower court’s disqualification of a local option vote on alcohol sales in Saline County.

As it stands, votes on the issue may not be counted. The Supreme Court could overturn that decision and allow the measure on the ballot. The case turns on whether valid signatures not part of the original certification process (the clerk stopped counting) should be considered. After the certification, some signatures were removed for deficiencies.

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Walmart is the major backer of the local option issue. Voters statewide will be voting on a constitutional amendment to allow alcohol sales in all 75 counties. Polling has been mixed. If young people vote, the issue passes. Big. 

Liquor dealers in wet counties put up money to fight the local option vote. Particularly in neighboring Pulaski County, stores would lose business if Saline County residents could buy beer closer to home.

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