Division of Liquor Control Provides Insight into Local Option Election Law Processes

When Ohioans go to the polls on March 19, they may see a question on the ballot about whether a particular business should be able to sell a certain type of alcohol at a specific location. The question may also reference regular (Monday– Saturday) sales, or it may ask about Sunday sales. These types of questions are part of the local option election law process.

With Election Day less than a month away, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control is providing a high-level resource for media and the public to understand why voters may see liquor-related questions on the ballot.

For certain types of liquor permits, the location where alcohol sales will occur must be “wet” for the specific types of sales (i.e., beer, wine, spirits, etc.), including how they will be sold, such as via carryout or on-premises consumption. On the other hand, when the precinct in that area is not wet (or “dry”), a business can put a question to the voters within that precinct that asks to wet up the entire precinct or just the specific location.

Due to the complexity of local option elections, an experienced liquor attorney is always recommended when navigating the process.

The Division of Liquor Control is part of the

Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio’s chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at www. com.ohio.gov.