Sauced

What Happens if Both Privatization Initiatives Pass?

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Oct 04, 2010 at 01:20PM0 Comments

What happens if both initiatives pass? “We don’t know for certain,” says the Attorney General’s office.

In the comments section of an article I wrote recently about liquor privatization initiatives I-1100 and I-1105, Charlie asks: “What happens if both pass???”

This is the question, Charlie. So what’s the answer? “We don’t know for certain,” says Dan Sytman, media relations manager for the State Attorney General’s Office. The trouble is that the state constitution does not include instructions about what to do when voters pass two measures that pertain to the same issue.

In 1993, the attorney general’s office published this statement regarding how to resolve two pieces of legislature “that deal with the same subject in different ways.” Essentially, the court attempts to merge the two documents into one.

Sytman says that when dealing with two measures that directly conflict with one another, as 1105 and 1100 certainly do, the court would give weight to the initiative that received more votes. Or, I should say, would probably give weight. After all, “it’s all speculating,” says Sytman.

You wanted a clearer answer than that? Sorry, Charlie.

Tags: Booze Laws, Liquor Privatization