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Board alerted to petition to allow Sunday off‑premise liquor sales; signatures under county verification
Summary
Legal counsel told the board a petition seeking to permit off‑premise Sunday alcohol sales is being verified by the county clerk; counsel said approximately 3,953 valid voter signatures are required to trigger the statutory process and, if sufficient, the board will have ministerial duties to set the election timetable.
City legal counsel reported that petitioners circulated a petition to allow off‑premise consumption (packaged sales) of alcohol on Sundays and that the county clerk's office is verifying signatures against voter records. Counsel said the statutory process under Ark. Code §3‑3‑210 is the exclusive route for this local option change and that petitioners need roughly 3,953 valid voter signatures for the petition to proceed.
Counsel explained that if the petition lacks sufficient signatures petitioners have a 10‑day cure period to supplement signatures and that, if verified, the board would be required by statute to set the petition for an election under the cited code sections. Board members asked about timing and title language; counsel said the statute itself sets the title to be used and that staff would provide calendar guidance should the petition be verified.
