East Texans approve alcohol sales on election night

EAST TEXAS (KLTV) - Only a few counties in East Texas have remained dry in recent years, and several groups hoped to change that in Tuesday night's midterm election. Would they be successful?

In Wood County, there were two alcohol-related elections on November 4, 2014.

First, Wood County Precinct 3 had a beer and wine sales proposition on the ballot Tuesday night. Voters in that precinct, which is the Hawkins area, resoundingly approved beer and wine sales in that part of the county, voting for the proposition 1,687 for, and 931 against.

Also in Wood County, the city of Quitman approved alcohol sales, but the vote was closer. 251 voters said yes to alcohol sales, while 212 said no. That's 54% to 46%, but that's enough to change things in Quitman.

Smith County Precinct 5, the Lindale area of the county, had two alcohol propositions on the ballot. First, Proposition 1 covered beer and wine sales in the precinct. 58% of the voters voted for this proposition, and 42% voted no. Second, Proposition 2 dealt with the sale of mixed beverages in the precinct. Again, voters approved of these sales, with 66% of the vote.

Rusk County Precinct 4 Proposition 1, for beer and wine sales, also showed East Texas voters were ready for alcohol sales in their area. 62% of the vote was for beer and wine sales, with 653 votes, and 35% voted no, with 398 votes.

Bullard also voted on alcohol sales Tuesday night; Proposition 1, regarding beer and wine sales, passed with 61% of the vote. Proposition 2, mixed beverage sales, also passed, with 67% of the vote.

Finally, in Overton, voters approved beer and wine sales in their city, passing Prop 1 300 votes to 162.

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