Wayne County commissioners ask elections board to put three alcohol‑sales questions on Nov. 3, 2026 ballot

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution asking the Wayne County Board of Elections to place three separate referendum questions on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot to permit the sale of malt beverages, unfortified wine and mixed beverages in unincorporated Wayne County. The motion was introduced under new business and taken without extended debate.

A commissioner who explained the measure said the items would not change county law but would give voters the final say. "This is not you all approving to change the law. It's just putting it on the ballot so that the citizens would have the final say," the commissioner said, adding that surrounding counties already allow such sales and that the local ABC board has missed out on revenue that flows to nonprofits and local governments.

Under the resolution, the questions would permit on‑premises and off‑premises sale of malt beverages (beer) and of unfortified wine, and would permit the sale of mixed beverages — cocktails — at hotels, restaurants, private clubs, community theaters and convention centers. The commissioner explained on‑premises sales refer to consumption at a restaurant or similar venue, while off‑premises sales refer to purchases taken home, such as at a gas station.

The board did not record a roll-call vote or tally in the transcript provided; the motion proceeded and the meeting moved on to public comment. The measure, if certified for the ballot by the elections board, would let Wayne County voters decide whether to expand alcohol sales in unincorporated areas.

The board also noted that one option for putting the question to voters is a citizen petition; the resolution represents a board‑initiated request to the elections authority to place the questions before voters.