BOISE - The House State Affairs Committee voted 11-7 on Wednesday in favor of a measure to allow liquor stores to sell alcohol on Election Day, and for bars to offer liquor-by-the-drink before polls close.

Dyke Nally, the superintendent of the Idaho state liquor dispensary, said the 1939 law was made amid post-prohibition fear of voter influencing and now costs the state up to $400,000 each day it can't sell liquor. Currently, just beer and wine can be sold in grocery stores on election days.

To illustrate how out of sync Idaho is with the nation, just nine other states follow suit. Nally said the proposal recently caught the attention of comedian Jay Leno.

"It's an inconsistent and ridiculous law that doesn't make sense to the citizens of Idaho," Nally said. "Alcohol is alcohol is alcohol."

The proposal was amended during the meeting to include a provision that would allow bars to sell liquor throughout the day on election days and not wait until polls close at 8 p.m. It came from Rep. Mark Snodgrass, R-Meridian, a member of the governor's liquor task force.

He said the average Idahoans or tourists aren't as familiar with laws as the Legislature and the changes will make things clearer.

"As much as we care about the electoral process, there are a lot of people who don't know about that or don't care about that and just go about planning their daily lives," he said.

The amendment was suggested by the state's attorney general's office to avoid confusion among citizens, Nally said after the meeting.

Supporters said the changes would both increase revenue that is filtered mostly to cities and counties, and assist the private sector, principally in border cities. Nally said that he is responsible for maximizing the state's profits in liquor sales.

But both changes sparked an hour worth of debate. Opponents questioned whether the change would actually increase revenue. Others wondered why it's a state industry if it's supposed to promote temperance.

"If that's why we're involved in the business of selling liquor then this is contradictory to that," said Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle.

Rep. Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, said he was against allowing the stores to open for philosophical reasons, but the last-minute changes posed problems because it would force cities and counties to re-address local liquor laws.

Nally cited recent examples of lost revenue to the state when the cities of Eagle and Hailey recently held run-off elections forcing the liquor stores to close not just once but twice. He said the state has no plans to try to open stores on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Memorial Day.

Jared S. Hopkins may be reached at 631-793-5717 or jhopkins@magicvalley.com.