County registrar outlines 1,945-signature requirement to place liquor package sales referendum on Heard County ballot

At the May 23 meeting, Chairman Lee Boone noted a previous request from Bob Patel, owner of County Line One Stop, to consider supporting a liquor package sales referendum. Registrar Tonnie Adams explained the formal petition requirements: to place a liquor package sales referendum on the ballot petitioners must gather signatures equal to 35 percent of the number of prior general election voters, which, based on the registrar’s calculation as recorded in the minutes, would be 1,945 signatures. Adams said signatures must be from registered Heard County voters and will be verified by the Board of Elections when submitted.

The minutes record the explanation of the statutory threshold and note that the board asked the registrar and county attorney to report back on procedural steps; the board did not take a formal vote to place a referendum on the ballot at this meeting.