Whether it is buttons, stickers, window posters or lawn signs, with the municipal elections getting closer, some may be wondering how they can show their support for their favourite candidates.
Michelle McIsaac, corporate administrator for the City of Trail, says voters can outwardly express their support for a certain candidate starting today, or 30 days before the election, but there are restrictions on where signs of political support can be posted.
“Signage can be placed on both private and public property, but cannot be placed on or adjacent to city-owned buildings or in city parks and gardens,” said McIsaac. “Also, signage cannot be placed in locations that would create a traffic or pedestrian hazard.”
There are exceptions to the rule, with window signs having no set date for display or removal. There are also no limits set in regards to the size of an election sign.
According to McIsaac, signs that do not follow the bylaws set out by the city will be taken down, either by the city or the person who displayed them and must be removed within a week of the election.
Those who want to make their own homemade signs to show backing of a particular candidate are more than welcome to do so, but the signage must follow the rules laid out in the Local Elections Campaign Funding Act, says McIsaac.
“We don’t normally see them, (but my only comment) would be that there are new requirements now under the “Local Elections Campaign Financing Act” for all election campaign materials to include sponsorship information,” she said in an email response. “All the candidates are aware of these requirements, but if someone was going to make up a sign to promote a candidate on their own, they would need to familiarize themselves with the requirements.”
The full requirements can be found on the Elections BC website.
McIsaac says there hasn't been many instances of signs needing to be removed in the past, mostly just signs posted in local parks or city-owned properties and are removed without issue.
Voting for this round of municipal elections is Nov. 15.