Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Local \Lo"cal\, a. [L. localis, fr. locus place: cf. F. local.
   See {Lieu}, {Locus}.]
   Of or pertaining to a particular place, or to a definite
   region or portion of space; restricted to one place or
   region; as, a local custom.

         Gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name.
                                                  --Shak.

   {Local actions} (Law), actions such as must be brought in a
      particular county, where the cause arises; --
      distinguished from transitory actions.

   {Local affection} (Med.), a disease or ailment confined to a
      particular part or organ, and not directly affecting the
      system.

   {Local attraction} (Magnetism), an attraction near a compass,
      causing its needle to deviate from its proper direction,
      especially on shipboard.

   {Local battery} (Teleg.), the battery which actuates the
      recording instruments of a telegraphic station, as
      distinguished from the battery furnishing a current for
      the line.

   {Local circuit} (Teleg.), the circuit of the local battery.
      

   {Local color}.
   (a) (Paint.) The color which belongs to an object, and is not
       caused by accidental influences, as of reflection,
       shadow, etc.
   (b) (Literature) Peculiarities of the place and its
       inhabitants where the scene of an action or story is
       laid.

   {Local option}, the right or obligation of determining by
      popular vote within certain districts, as in each county,
      city, or town, whether the sale of alcoholic beverages
      within the district shall be allowed.

Option \Op"tion\, n. [L. optio; akin to optare to choose, wish,
   optimus best, and perh. to E. apt: cf. F. option.]
   1. The power of choosing; the right of choice or election; an
      alternative.

            There is an option left to the United States of
            America, whether they will be respectable and
            prosperous, or contemptible and miserable, as a
            nation.                               --Washington.

   2. The exercise of the power of choice; choice.

            Transplantation must proceed from the option of the
            people, else it sounds like an exile. --Bacon.

   3. A wishing; a wish. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall.

   4. (Ch. of Eng.) A right formerly belonging to an archbishop
      to select any one dignity or benefice in the gift of a
      suffragan bishop consecrated or confirmed by him, for
      bestowal by himself when next vacant; -- annulled by
      Parliament in 1845.

   5. (Stock Exchange) A stipulated privilege, given to a party
      in a time contract, of demanding its fulfillment on any
      day within a specified limit.

   {Buyer's option}, an option allowed to one who contracts to
      buy stocks at a certain future date and at a certain
      price, to demand the delivery of the stock (giving one
      day's notice) at any previous time at the market price.

   {Seller's option}, an option allowed to one who contracts to
      deliver stock art a certain price on a certain future
      date, to deliver it (giving one day's notice) at any
      previous time at the market price. Such options are
      privileges for which a consideration is paid.

   {Local option}. See under {Local}.

   Syn: Choice; preference; selection.

   Usage: {Option}, {Choice}. Choice is an act of choosing;
          option often means liberty to choose, and implies
          freedom from constraint in the act of choosing.

Source : WordNet®

local option
     n : freedom of a local government to determine by popular vote
         the applicability of a controversial law in their
         jurisdiction