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Borger council calls special election on alcohol sales after verified petition
Summary
The Borger City Council voted to call a special local option election for May 2, 2026, to let voters decide whether to legalize the sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed drinks. The action followed submission and staff verification of a citizen petition that staff said exceeded the required threshold.
The Borger City Council on Wednesday voted to order a special local option election on May 2, 2026, to submit to city voters the proposition to legalize the sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed beverages.
City staff told the council that a citizen petition to legalize mixed beverages was submitted on Sept. 23 and that staff verified the number of signatures against the statutory threshold based on the last gubernatorial election. "The city is neutral on all of this," a staff member said during the meeting, noting the petition and any election-education efforts would be community led. The staff member said the petition had been verified and therefore the council was required to call the election at its first regularly scheduled meeting at least 30 days after submission.
Council members moved to approve Resolution R-017-25, which orders and calls the special local option election to be held May 2, 2026. The presiding officer called the vote and the motion passed; the meeting record shows the presiding officer announcing, "All in favor? And it passes." The council had earlier approved consent agenda items 5–8 without discussion.
The staff presentation described the election-timing requirements in the city's alcoholic beverage code and the election code and said staff used templates and tailored wording to meet those code requirements. Staff repeatedly framed the matter as a community-led effort and said the city would remain neutral. The meeting record does not include a roll-call tally in the minutes for the resolution vote; the presiding officer indicated the motion passed by voice vote.
Several numeric figures were discussed during staff remarks: the staff presentation said the required number of signatures was tied to turnout in the last gubernatorial election, and the staff member reported a verified signature total. The meeting transcript contains inconsistent numeric references (see audit). The transcript does not include additional details about ballot language beyond that the question is to "legalize" the sale of all alcoholic beverages including mixed beverages.
The council adjourned shortly after the vote.
