Voters in West Marlborough and Franklin townships voted overwhelmingly in favor of expanding their liquor laws in Tuesday’s primary election, writes Erin McCarthy for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to Chester County election results, around 78 percent of voters in Franklin, a township of a little more than 4,000 people, approved expanding liquor licenses. Meanwhile, in West Marlborough, a township with a population of approximately 800, around 68 percent responded in favor.

West Marlborough has allowed only the sale of liquor at retail stores since the Prohibition, while Franklin allowed the sale of retail liquor and beer. In fact, Franklin residents voted to expand their laws to permit beer distributors in the 1960s.

Before a town can change its liquor laws, State Liquor Code requires that a question on the issue be voted on in an election. But to get the referendum question on the ballot, residents first have to submit a petition. The question is then added to the ballots.

However, as Chester County is already over its liquor-license quota, the effects of the vote will not be immediately noticeable. Businesses that want to sell liquor in these towns will have to get an existing license transferred from another establishment within the county.

Read more about the liquor laws in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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