Area officials say that the Sunday alcohol-by-the-drink referendum that’s on the ballot for the city of Carrollton has done little to get people to the polls for early voting and, all things considered, local residents have so far kept mum on what some expected to be a hugely controversial vote.

Carroll County Elections Supervisor Patti Brown-Traylor said early voting for the Nov. 3 election has been dismal up to this point, with less than 1 percent of all those registered casting a ballot. Of those who have voted thus far, she said, few have mentioned anything to her about the alcohol referendum.

“Really, I haven’t heard much at all,” she said. “Not much to speak of at all.”

As it will appear on the ballot, the referendum reads, “Shall the governing authority of the City of Carrollton be authorized to permit and regulate Sunday sales of distilled spirits or alcoholic beverages for beverage purposes by the drink?” Voters will have the chance to vote yes or no.

Should it be passed with a majority vote, restaurants within the city limits which meet a number of requirements would be able to sell alcohol by the drink from 12:30 p.m. to midnight on Sundays. State law prohibits Sunday sales of packaged alcoholic beverages at stores, but a number of cities across the state have voted to allow by-the-drink sales for restaurants on Sunday, including Villa Rica. Bowdon passed a similar referendum last year allowing by-the-drink sales on all days except Sunday.

Despite the fact that the referendum would, for the first time, allow thirsty Carrollton residents to enjoy a cocktail on Sundays, citizens haven’t been very vocal about it one way or the other, said Carrollton City Councilman Gerald Byrd.

In fact, the alcohol referendum seems to have elicited little more than a collective yawn from the Carrollton populace.

“I have not gotten any comments concerning the alcohol referendum,” Byrd said. “I really don’t know

if I find that strange. They must not be concerned about that particular issue.”

Such ambivalence on the issue does not extend to members of the business community.

Jessica Reynolds, director of Carrollton Main Street, said a month ago that Sunday alcohol sales would help a number of restaurants in and around the Carrollton downtown. Most restaurants in the downtown area are closed on Sunday, she said, and while there are a number of reasons for this — for starters, local business owners want one day off a week — the ban on by-the-drink sales plays a big part.

“I know that as far as business goes, it would help out a lot. There are reasons the restaurants aren’t open on Sunday, and number one is that they can’t sell alcohol,” Reynolds said shortly after the Carrollton City Council voted unanimously to put the referendum on the ballot. “As far as the football games go and the Super Bowl, they can’t participate in any of those things. I know the Pub and Plates and Miller’s would love to have game nights and have people come in and have some drinks with their friends, but they can’t right now. People want to go places they can drink.”

Many local restaurateurs agree.

Jami Wells, manager at the Irish Bred Pub and Grill on Adamson Square, said in later September that Sunday alcohol sales would give her restaurant a reason to open on Sunday. Currently, the pub is closed all day, and the ban on alcohol is the reason why.

“On Sunday, people want to watch football and drink beer. We’ve tried to be open on Sunday, but it just wasn’t working because we couldn’t sell alcohol,” Wells said. “I think it would help us a lot.”

In addition to the Sunday-sales referendum, a number of municipal races will be on the ballot, including those for the Carrollton Board of Education, the Carrollton City Council, the Villa Rica City Council, the Bowdon City Council, the Mt. Zion City Council, the Temple City Council and the Whitesburg City Council.

Early voting will be available until the end of the business day on Friday at the Carroll County Administration Building on College Street in downtown Carrollton, with the election to be held next Tuesday, Nov. 3.