Lawn sign

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Lawn signs placed near a polling location in Apex, North Carolina, July 2004.

Lawn signs (also known as yard signs) are used in election campaigns in some countries. They are small signs placed on the lawns of a candidate's supporters. Lawn signs are often also placed near polling places on election day, although in most jurisdictions, there are legal restrictions on campaigning within a certain distance from a voting facility. Signs come in all shapes and sizes, but are most often rectangular and between 12 and 40 inches on each side.

Types of signs

Most yard signs in the past have been constructed from cardboard or coated paperboard of varying thickness, set onto a wood frame with either heavy-duty staples or nails with plastic washers. Since the late 1990s, corrugated plastic signs have become more common for small to medium-sized campaigns. These sign faces are constructed just like corrugated cardboard, with two outer sides sandwiching a series of flutes that give the sign structure and strength. These signs can be either attached to a wooden structure, or set with a metal frame made of wire.

Another type is the lawn bag sign, which is less expensive than the same size corrugated plastic sign and has print on both sides.

Types of frames

H frame

The most common type of yard sign frame in use today is the "H frame". The wire frames usually have at least two tines that can be inserted into the flutes of corrugated plastic signs. The tines on the other end of the frame can be inserted into the ground. A single or double crossbar between the two tines adds strength and makes the entire frame one single unit. It also prevents the sign face from sliding down the tines.

I frame

The I frame is essentially an H frame without a crossbar linking the two legs. Each leg may have an abutment that acts as a stop to prevent the sign from sliding down.

Sign deployment

A campaign's field staff are usually responsible for coordinating a campaign's lawn signs. Closer to election day, they are often deployed en masse by workers with trucks and vans.

Design

Lawn signs generally contain the name of the candidate, their party, and the office for which they are running. Extras like slogans or the date of the election are sometimes added. Most signs also have a notice stating who paid for it, but it is usually in small text that is much less noticeable. This notice is often required by campaign finance laws. The insignia for the sign maker or printer's union responsible for creating the signs is often seen in the same size type.

The 30 MPH rule for candidates and businesses is important for the effectiveness of a lawn sign campaign. The rule asserts that on roads that have speed limits of 30 MPH or less, a small 'lawn sign' is best. For example, a sign roughly 18"x24" would be about right. But when speeds exceed 30 MPH, then larger lawn signs are needed. In these cases, a minimum of 2'x4' are necessary due to the lack of time for a driver speeding down a road or highway has to see and commit the name to memory.

Importance

Traditionally, the amount of lawn signs express the enthusiasm of the supporters of a particular candidate. Critics charge that "lawn signs don't vote", and dismiss the importance of them.^[1] Lawn signs are commonly stolen during the political season, and some feel that these thefts reduce civility in politics. Theft of lawn signs is treated like any other instance of petty theft.^[2]

Political scientist Mel Kahn states that lawn signs help build name recognition for candidates. Supposedly, each sign represents between six and ten votes for the candidate.^[3] However, veteran political organizers hate the task of handing out yard signs, because they believe that time spent on procuring and distributing yard signs could be better used on other voter registration and get out the vote operations. In addition, it gives the requester a placebo effect of doing something substantive, while not actually volunteering to help their candidate.^[4]

References