Hartwell Voters Split on Sunday Alcohol Sales

Hartwell voters said “Yes” to one of two referendums regarding the sale of alcohol on Sunday, but only by a fairly narrow margin.

In the first, voters approved the sale of packaged alcohol on Sunday by vote of 514 Yes votes to 507 No votes.

But in the second referendum, Hartwell City voters said No to the sale of liquor by the drink on Sundays by a vote of 512 No votes to 510 Yes votes.

The votes were so close in both questions, that the Election Superintendent manually counted the absentee and provisional ballots several times.

The final tallies were not officially verified until almost midnight Tuesday.

Supporters of both questions say allowing Sunday alcohol sales at restaurants and stores will increase tourism in the downtown area and allow eateries to expand their businesses