Columbus County Mixed Beverage Election

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:07 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does
To permit the sale of mixed beverages in hotels, restaurants, private clubs, community theatres, and convention centers and the "on-premises" and "off-premises" sale of malt beverages and unfortified wine in qualified establishments.
A YES vote means
The sale of mixed beverages in hotels, restaurants, private clubs, community theatres and convention centers, and on- and off-premises sale of malt beverages and unfortified wine in qualified establishments would be permitted in Columbus County.
A NO vote means
These sales of mixed beverages, malt beverages and unfortified wine would not be permitted in Columbus County by this vote.
Needed to pass
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean
Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

On April 20, 2026, the Columbus County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve a resolution, requested by Commissioner Lavern Coleman, placing malt beverage, unfortified wine and mixed beverage questions on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Commissioner Bullard voted no, according to the meeting minutes.

Residents spoke both for and against placing the questions on the ballot during public comment at that meeting, and a speaker supporting the referendum said there had not been one in the county since approximately 2003, according to the minutes.

The interim county attorney told the board that 'community theatre' in the statutory ballot wording does not mean a movie theater, that the county currently has no hotels to which the hotel provision would apply, and that each of the three alcohol questions is voted on separately.

Put on the ballot by Columbus County Board of Commissioners, 6-1, April 20, 2026.

From official source 1, official source 2.

In the news

See your members of Congress and every race and measure on your ballot in Columbus County, from your address. Your address stays in your browser.Look up my races

Next elections here

Also on Columbus County ballots

All Columbus County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Columbus County Mixed Beverage Election mean?
The sale of mixed beverages in hotels, restaurants, private clubs, community theatres and convention centers, and on- and off-premises sale of malt beverages and unfortified wine in qualified establishments would be permitted in Columbus County.
What does a NO vote on Columbus County Mixed Beverage Election mean?
These sales of mixed beverages, malt beverages and unfortified wine would not be permitted in Columbus County by this vote.
How many votes does Columbus County Mixed Beverage Election need to pass?
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Columbus County Mixed Beverage Election?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?
The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Columbus County ballot.

See something wrong on this page? Report a problem · Corrections