The countdown to election day continues – which means signs are popping up in Blaine.
“We’re starting to see more and more now,” said Blaine City Clerk Cathy Sorensen. “Sign season.”
Political candidates from city council to president have their signs scattered across Blaine. But before those are posted, candidates need to know what they can and can’t do.
There are rules and regulations in the city of Blaine that candidates must adhere to.
“The dos and don’ts for political signs is they need to be placed with property owner permission so they can be on private property,” Sorenson said. “They can’t be placed in right of ways. If you have a sidewalk going through your front yard – you want to have that sign placed on the yard side of the sidewalk – not on the street side.”
Public spaces are a no-no
Public spaces are taboo for signs. They need to be posted in neutral spots.
“They can’t be placed on telephone poles,” Sorenson said. “They can’t be placed anywhere in a public park. They can’t be placed anywhere on public building property like city hall, a school, that type of thing. A church, a place of worship, that may want to allow a sign. That is allowed because that actually is private property not public property.”
On election day and for absentee voting, sign rules are very specific.
“Signs can’t be 100 feet from the entrance to the polling place…” Sorenson said. “The city has an ordinance that we share with all the candidates to let them know that if there is a sign that may be placed incorrectly.”
Political signs aren’t the only messages seen on Blaine streets and neighborhoods. There are plenty of other signs that pop up year-round – especially for youth sports.
“Signs that are for advertising business, trying to obtain business, those actually aren’t allowed at any time on the corners and stuff,” Sorenson said. “We try to move those in a timely fashion, but they can be problematic.”
Some signs get a pass.
“Garage sale signs are somewhat exempt because they are very, very temporary,” Sorenson said.
Basically Blaine uses soft enforcement when it comes to business signs.
“Those are normally for like a quick sign up for tryouts for a certain event,” Sorenson said.
Blaine wants all political signs removed 10 days after the election.
