In the latest survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. in September, 63 percent of the respondents said they would vote for the lottery, while 31 percent said they would vote against it. The numbers are virtually unchanged from a similar poll conducted in July.

Simpson County's 13 lottery retailers and others across southern Kentucky are bracing for the Nov. 5 vote in Tennessee. Tiny Simpson County, nestled on the Kentucky-Tennessee border, ranks fourth in the state in lottery sales behind only Jefferson (Louisville), Fayette (Lexington) and Kenton (Cincinnati) counties because of its proximity to Nashville and its location on the interstate. An estimated 95 percent of Simpson County's lottery business comes from out-of-state buyers, mainly from Tennessee.

This past fiscal year, local retailers sold about $28 million worth of lottery tickets. They keep 5 percent of the sales, pumping around $1.5 million into the local economy. That figure doesn't include other items that lottery ticket buyers tend to purchase, such as food, gas and tobacco products.

Proceeds from Tennessee's lottery would pay for college scholarships. Extra revenue would go to school construction projects, early learning programs and after-school programs for grades K-12. The state of Tennessee is having trouble funding schools and balancing its budget. The state budget expects a $480 million shortfall during the current fiscal year.

The question on the ballot wouldn't actually create a lottery but rather remove the constitutional ban on gambling. Tennessee lawmakers have already agreed on the next steps if the referendum passes. They plan to model Tennessee's lottery after the one in neighboring Georgia.