§45-10-20.02. Municipal option election.

(a) Upon petition of 25 percent of the number of voters voting in the last general election of the municipality having a population of not less than 1,300 inhabitants nor more than 1,500 inhabitants being filed with the city or town clerk or governing body of the municipality, the governing body shall call a municipal option election for the municipality to determine the sentiment of the people as to whether alcoholic beverages may be legally sold or distributed in the municipality. The petition for the municipal option election shall contain the following: "It is petitioned that a municipal option election be held to determine whether the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages shall be permitted within this municipality," on the ballot to be used for the municipal option election, the question shall be in the following form: "Do you favor the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within this municipality? Yes _____ No _____."

(b) The municipal option election shall be held and the officers shall be appointed to hold the election in the manner provided by law for holding other municipal elections and the returns thereof tabulated and the results certified as provided by law for municipal elections. The municipal option election shall be held on the date set by the governing body. Notice of the municipal option election shall be given by the governing body of the municipality by publication at least three weeks before the date of the election, in a newspaper in the municipality, or, if there be none, in a newspaper in the county, or, if there be neither, by posting the notice at the town or city hall, apprising the voters of the municipality that a municipal option election shall be held to determine whether the municipality shall be wet or dry under this article. The cost of the municipal option election, including the cost of notice by publication, shall be paid out of the general fund of the municipality.

(c) Only qualified electors of the municipality may vote in the municipal option election. If a majority of the electors voting in the municipal option election vote "yes," the municipality shall be wet, and alcoholic beverages may be legally sold, distributed, and consumed within the corporate limits of the municipality, and all of the provisions of Title 28, relating to alcoholic beverages in wet municipalities, including, but not limited to, Chapters 3, 3A, 6, and 7, shall be immediately put into operation with respect to and effective within the corporate limits of the municipality. Notwithstanding the results of any subsequent county election, special method referendum, or other election, the municipality shall remain wet until changed to a dry municipality at a subsequent municipal option election conducted in the same manner as required for the initial election, including, but not limited to, the petition procedure.

(d) If a majority of the voters voting in the municipal option election vote "no," the municipality shall be a dry municipality under the terms of this article until the municipality, by a subsequent municipal option election held under this article, votes wet.

(e) At least 1,560 days shall have lapsed before a second municipal option election may be held in the municipality.

(Acts 2003-362, p. 1011, §3.)