I expected a long wait to vote at my precinct today. I brought my iPod, wore comfortable shoes, and prepared to wait in line
for an hour or more. When at 7 a.m. I pulled up to the church where I vote, there was no line wrapped around the door. I was
done in less than 10 minutes.
But I do know some people had to wait a lot longer today to vote, and after standing in line for an hour or more, they may want to have an adult beverage.
They’ll just have to wait until 6 p.m.
Like our restrictions on alcohol sales on Sunday, Indiana is one of a handful of states that have laws on the books banning some form of alcohol sales on Election Day. There are also states that allow local ordinances to be enacted to restrict alcohol sales on Election Day.
Restricting alcohol sales hurts liquor stores’ business, as well as restaurants and bars. Other businesses aren’t forced to close on Election Day. Yes, people are able to wait until 6 p.m. to purchase a bottle of wine or have a beer with dinner, but what’s the rationale behind them having to wait?
If an adult wants to have a drink at lunch or an early dinner, they should be able to have a drink (unless of course, it will impair their driving or their employers have restrictions). I’ve read the ban dates back to when some polling places were also bars and taverns.
Is the fear people will drink too much before they vote? Will there be more drinking and driving on Election Day than other days if alcohol sales are allowed?
I’ve made the argument in this blog that our legislators need to overturn the Sunday liquor laws. While they are at it, they should remove the Election Day restriction, too.
But I do know some people had to wait a lot longer today to vote, and after standing in line for an hour or more, they may want to have an adult beverage.
They’ll just have to wait until 6 p.m.
Like our restrictions on alcohol sales on Sunday, Indiana is one of a handful of states that have laws on the books banning some form of alcohol sales on Election Day. There are also states that allow local ordinances to be enacted to restrict alcohol sales on Election Day.
Restricting alcohol sales hurts liquor stores’ business, as well as restaurants and bars. Other businesses aren’t forced to close on Election Day. Yes, people are able to wait until 6 p.m. to purchase a bottle of wine or have a beer with dinner, but what’s the rationale behind them having to wait?
If an adult wants to have a drink at lunch or an early dinner, they should be able to have a drink (unless of course, it will impair their driving or their employers have restrictions). I’ve read the ban dates back to when some polling places were also bars and taverns.
Is the fear people will drink too much before they vote? Will there be more drinking and driving on Election Day than other days if alcohol sales are allowed?
I’ve made the argument in this blog that our legislators need to overturn the Sunday liquor laws. While they are at it, they should remove the Election Day restriction, too.
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