I Saw the Sign: Thoughts on the Often Overlooked Rules and Regulations of Political Campaign Signs
Believe it or not, it is about that time again. It’s summer - the season of extreme heat and rising gas prices (as I’m sure you’ve noticed). But this time around summer also brings with it a slew of political campaign signs scattering the city.
It seems, however, that some of these impassioned campaigners promoting their chosen candidate have no knowledge about Jackson’s Sign Ordinance which states the rules and regulations regarding political signage. According to this ordinance, political signs are not permitted in any public right-of-way and additionally
“the tacking, painting, posting or affixing of signs, posters or advertising devices of any kind on trees, rocks, utility poles and other such structures is hereby prohibited.”
Basically this says that campaigners cant put signs on interstate medians or state-owned property and you can’t climb up a telephone pole (for safety reasons as well, I would imagine) and tack signs all up and down it. These rules, which seem pretty sensible and fair, are mostly overlooked as you can see for yourself by taking a stroll down any Jackson sidewalk.
And then there are the misleading, misrepresenting and misinformed signs. A certain anonymous candidate who is running for an office that she has not previously held boasts signs that urge voters to “reselect her to this office. If you will allow me to point out the obvious, this command to “reselect is one meager letter off from “re-elect,Ԕ thus leaving these signs open for an ample amount of misinterpretation. Maybe this candidates signs aren’t in a public right-of-way and maybe they’re not haphazardly lying around on the sidewalk awaiting some innocent biker or jogger, but these signs do have the potential to mislead.
So, consider this: perhaps these kinds of signs are even more detrimental and unlawful than signs in an interstate median or tacked on to a utility pole. Thoughts?
Posted by kate at 11:57 AM in Elections | Email this entry
Comments:
I hadn’t thought about the “reselect” thing. Thanks for pointing that out.
I wish that some of the canvassers wouldn’t stick signs in your yard without permission. I had to toss one the other day. That’s just rude.
I also get irritated when I see five signs for the same candidate in one spot. Okay, I get it already.
Posted by L.W. on 05/30 at 09:35 PM | #
I can’t believe anyone put a sign in your yard without permission. That is an EXTREME no no. It probably costs the candidate that vote and also a sign gets tossed, and those things are expensive.
I am shocked someone did that.
AGamma627
Posted by on 06/05 at 11:24 AM | #
If they’re in a bad and illegal spot, the law doesn’t say anything about them being removed by law-abiding citizens. 
Posted by on 06/10 at 03:52 PM | #
Yeah, IG, and I have removed one sign out of my yard so far.
Posted by L.W. on 06/10 at 09:44 PM | #
I’ve been known to tear them down at intersections, back when I was sans car.
Posted by on 06/10 at 09:47 PM | #
