Veteran election-watcher gives his anaylsis

For many years Walhalla’s Bob Brock has been recognized as the authority in Oconee County elections. And the long time county election commissioner offered his own twist on this week’s election—especially as it pertained to the voters’ decision to allow Sunday alcohol sales. At their meeting today, Brock’s colleagues ascribed passage of the alcohol sales referendum to the voters of two large precincts—Ravenel and Stamp Creek. They believe Clemson students, registered in Ravenel, helped push the affirmative vote. According to commissioner Brock’s analysis, while Sunday sales prevailed with 56%, it failed in several precincts—such as rural precincts. An irony to this, Brock says, is that the Sunday sales referendum passed in two precincts, West Union and South Union,  which, he said, were organized by the The Women’s Christian Temperance Union, which formed as a social reform movement in the late 1800s.  The religious vote was a factor, as election officials say they registered several 70 to 80 year-old voters who were asked to vote no by their churches.