Mississippi House members want some cities
in dry counties to be able to vote on allowing alcohol sales.

House members voted 67-52 Wednesday for Senate Bill 2497, which now returns to the Senate for more work.

As changed by the House, the bill would allow cities with 5,000 or more people in dry counties, as well all county seats in dry counties, to hold elections on the sale of beer, wine and liquor.

The Senate bill originally set the population at 6,000 or more.

Of Mississippi's 82 counties, 27 are entirely dry and 10 more are partially dry, according to the state Revenue Department.

Elections to allow alcohol, or to revert to dry status, would be called when 20 percent of a city's voters present a petition.