Atlanta, other cities to weigh in on Sunday sales

As of Tuesday, November 8, 2011
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

A liquor store stands across the street from a polling site on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 in Atlanta. When voters in nearly 100 cities and a dozen counties in Georgia cast their ballots today on whether they want Sunday alcohol sales, it will be far less dramatic than the debate in the Legislature over the years. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

ATLANTA — Georgians are headed to the polls, with voters in nearly 100 cities including Atlanta, Macon and Savannah weighing in on whether they want Sunday alcohol sales in their communities.

The Georgia Legislature gave local municipalities the option of offering voters the chance to weigh in on the issue earlier this year. Because Atlanta already had a special election scheduled, the city council last month decided to add the issue to the ballot. Many local governments declined to take up the issue at extra expense if they had no other contests.

Should the measure pass, the effective dates will vary by municipality — meaning that voters would not necessarily be able to buy alcohol at a grocery or liquor store on the first Sunday after the measure passes in their community.

Gwinnett Daily Post