Cobb County: "Didn't we already pass Sunday alcohol sales?" | News

MARIETTA, GA - As Yogi Berra once said, "it's déjà vu all over again" for Cobb County voters.

They thought they had approved Sunday takeout alcohol sales in the March 6th Presidential Primary election, but think again.

On Friday morning Cobb County's Elections Board voted to undo that vote and set a re-do for the July 31st Primary election.

The board chose not to waste taxpayer dollars fighting a lawsuit over the fact that voters in Cobb cities did not get a chance to cast a ballot for countywide sales.

Many voted on Sunday sales in their own cities, but didn't have a say in the unincorporated vote.

The lawsuit argued they should have since they pay county taxes.

"Because the county expressed a desire not to contest it, that we go ahead and put it on, or request that it be put on, the July 31st ballot in order to save taxpayer money," explained Elections Board attorney Gregg Litchfield.

The new vote won't cost anything extra since the July 31st election is already set.

But it will be costly for stores that sell alcohol.

Originally, the March 6th vote meant Sunday sales could begin June 3rd in unincorporated Cobb.

But the re-vote now means it can't begin until at least August 12th, if it passes a second time.

Already competing against stores in other cities and counties that have Sunday sales, the Cobb stores are stuck on an uneven playing field for several more months.

"We're in a disadvantaged position now longer than we were," said Craig Maske, General Manager of Sherlock's.

The lawyer who filed the suit challenging the March 6th ballots praised Cobb County officials for being honest about it.

"Government is supposed to be open and transparent even when mistakes are made and they did that," said Justin O'Dell.

A judge from outside Cobb County will still have to approve a consent agreement over the new election date, but both sides expect that to happen in a week or so.