Politicial Lawn Signs -- Yea or Nay?

[dr.girlfriend]

If you have a lawn sign supporting your candidate, why? If you don't, why not?

I've debated getting one. When we were house-shopping in an election year, we drove around a little to get the "feel" of different neighborhoods, and lawn signs were very helpful for that. On the other hand, how I'm voting seems very personal to me, and I don't think signs really sway people either way so what's the point of broadcasting your vote except to give your neighbors a mental check of whether you agree or disagree with them?

[arch01]

Nay. I don't share my political views with my neighbors.

[yellowbrkrd]

Nay. We live in a very conservative area and I am positive if we put any liberal stuff up things would happen to our house/yard.

I also don't wish to argue with neighbors.

[Deleted]

Not this time. I did 4 years ago and I did with prop 8. I live in CA. Obama will win this state, so it doesn't really matter.

[Velvetshady]

Nope. Not big on displaying my politics anywhere. The only political sing-like thing I've ever displayed was a Brain for President bumper sticker.

[GailGoldie]

We have them for local elections all the time- we are on a fairly busy road, and are friendly with many of the people who hold/run for office in local elections, so they often ask if they can put them in our lawn, and we're fine for that.

We did not have a sign for the last pres election b/c we were torn about voting gop or 3rd party. This year we do have a RR sign, mostly to show support - since in this blue state people that lean right often feel they need to keep quiet about their beliefs- We want to show them that it's OK to not follow the herd around you. Not that we support RR so much, but they are the choice we are making. There are actually tons of RR signs in our town - very few O signs. It seems those on the right are feeing more passionate in this area lately.

I do not, however, ever put a bumper sticker on my car... too much negativity as it is when people are driving around - don't need any more reasons for road rage

[thedutchgirl]

Generally, we don't. But this year we have a bright orange Vote No sign for the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. (Which is already barred by state law here. Just an extra layer of bigotry.)

[Kore]

Oct 28, 2012 10:53:07 GMT -5 yellowbrkrd said:

Nay. We live in a very conservative area and I am positive if we put any liberal stuff up things would happen to our house/yard.

I also don't wish to argue with neighbors.

Same here. You're not going to change any minds with political signs.

[Doggy Mommy]

We have a car magnet. In 08 we put up an Obama sign in our yard, but we probably won't this year. One neighbor did and it went missing within a few days. :-(

[kaylie]

Nay, I don't like to go into politics with neighbors. I haven't seen signs for any candidates on my street. I would never put anything on my car - it could influence a cop's decision on whether or not to give me a speeding ticket.

[cjeanette]

I don't care for them. Not that my neighbors would notice them or care. We don't discuss politics with them.

Though once I came home from work with signs for 2 local Republican candidates signs in my yard. They mixed us up with my ILs who had requested them. I was embarassed that people might think we were social conservatives.

[Susie]

Nobody around here has signs up for the national elections. My state always goes blue, it's a non-issue.

There are a lot of signs for local elections. Those I don't really mind (although we don't have one) because it's usually people helping someone they know out. Name recognition is a bigger issue on the local level I think.

[UMaineTeach]

I just like to keep in to myself (and GBCN).

I also have a fear of it being noted that I was on the wrong side of history should the guy/idea I vote for turn out really bad.

Edit: I do have a s/o question. On CEP they were talking about sign stealing and how those people bought those signs. Do you really have to buy the signs and other promotional product (buttons, stickers)?
I can see both sides campaign contribution = a "free" sign or it's a political ad - you pay me!. I would prefer that reality fall on the side of free.

[Deleted]

I know how most of my neighbors are voting. It is a mix. I. O not have signs up.

[CloudBee]

We don't have them, but we're on a small cul-de-sac.

I like seeing them out, because many people wouldn't be familiar with candidate's names otherwise.

[Deleted]

I don't and we won't put them out. We love our neighbors and have good relationships with a lot of them. I know we don't agree politically with some and I suspect not with others - I don't want to cause issues in those relationships. I know if my neighbors put a Romney sign or a vote Yes on the marriage amendment sign out I might feel it's kind of an aggressive planting of the flag, you know? It might impact how I feel about them. I guess out of respect for our differences and wanting to stay friends w/ our neighbors we are going to live near for 20-30 years.

[thedutchgirl]

Oct 28, 2012 11:53:00 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

I just like to keep in to myself (and GBCN).

I also have a fear of it being noted that I was on the wrong side of history should the guy/idea I vote for turn out really bad.

Edit: I do have a s/o question. On CEP they were talking about sign stealing and how those people bought those signs. Do you really have to buy the signs and other promotional product (buttons, stickers)?
I can see both sides campaign contribution = a "free" sign or it's a political ad - you pay me!. I would prefer that reality fall on the side of free.

It costs money to print those signs. I paid for my sign, although often you can get things like buttons for free. But signs often are the product of a donation.

[Deleted]

Oct 28, 2012 12:02:58 GMT -5 thedutchgirl said:

Oct 28, 2012 11:53:00 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

I just like to keep in to myself (and GBCN).

I also have a fear of it being noted that I was on the wrong side of history should the guy/idea I vote for turn out really bad.

Edit: I do have a s/o question. On CEP they were talking about sign stealing and how those people bought those signs. Do you really have to buy the signs and other promotional product (buttons, stickers)?
I can see both sides campaign contribution = a "free" sign or it's a political ad - you pay me!. I would prefer that reality fall on the side of free.

It costs money to print those signs. I paid for my sign, although often you can get things like buttons for free. But signs often are the product of a donation.

Also (as someone who used to run a campaign field office) yard signs are highly ineffective as a voter persuasion tool. They basically make them because supporters want them, not because they help the candidate win over undecideds. So spending money to give them out doesn't help the campaign, thus most campaigns make you buy them now, same as if you wanted a t-shirt.

[statlerwaldorf]

I live at the end of a dead-end street. No one would ever see it.

[GailGoldie]

Oct 28, 2012 11:53:00 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

I just like to keep in to myself (and GBCN).

I also have a fear of it being noted that I was on the wrong side of history should the guy/idea I vote for turn out really bad.

Edit: I do have a s/o question. On CEP they were talking about sign stealing and how those people bought those signs. Do you really have to buy the signs and other promotional product (buttons, stickers)?
I can see both sides campaign contribution = a "free" sign or it's a political ad - you pay me!. I would prefer that reality fall on the side of free.

Our local election signs are free. Pres signs usually cost a few bucks. We paid $3 for ours.

[Deleted]

Not a fan. Our town doesn't allow them anyways.

[mollybrown]

We will, once we get around to picking one up. It's more for us just wanting one for the he'll of it. Our neighborhood is very blue, so it doesn't mean much. I live in a swing state, so I do like being able to drive through neighborhoods and get a feel for which are red and which are blue based on yard signs. A few miles can make a big difference in my city.

[dexteroni]

HELL nay. My neighbors are in our business more than I would like as it is; the last thing I want to do is invite more commentary.

[LoveTrains]

Oct 28, 2012 12:48:40 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Not a fan. Our town doesn't allow them anyways.

Really?! I thought it was constitutionally protected free speech to have a yard sign....but I guess I was confused.

[Deleted]

No. Clutter.

[Deleted]

Oct 28, 2012 13:21:00 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Oct 28, 2012 12:48:40 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Not a fan. Our town doesn't allow them anyways.

Really?! I thought it was constitutionally protected free speech to have a yard sign....but I guess I was confused.

Our HOA doesn't allow them. That said, someone in my neighborhood has an Obama/Biden sign up and the HOA president (who is a good friend of mine) told him it was fine. I do not think she would have said the same to a Romney supporter, which irked me a lot, but whatever. (For the record I support neither of them.)

[jackpackage]

No. Most of our neighbors are h's patients, so we don't want to offend anyone. We're in an extremely conservative area, so an Obama/Biden sign would probably cause a stir.

[Deleted]

I don't have one this year because the last two elections, the candidate that I've put a sign up for has lost. I'm convinced my yard is cursed so no yard signs this year.

I worked on campaigns quite a bit in the past, and see yard signs as PR for others and a little reminder for me, particularly when I'm really excited about a candidate.

Our neighborhood is all Romney / Ryan, which is interesting, I wouldn't have expected a 100% hit rate, though maybe the Dems don't want to put the signs up...

[kaylie]

Oct 28, 2012 11:53:00 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

Edit: I do have a s/o question. On CEP they were talking about sign stealing and how those people bought those signs. Do you really have to buy the signs and other promotional product (buttons, stickers)?
I can see both sides campaign contribution = a "free" sign or it's a political ad - you pay me!. I would prefer that reality fall on the side of free.

Signs are almost always free (you just call the campaign office or say yes when they bring them around) and I've never heard of someone paying for one. Some people buy buttons and other items.

ETA - I just saw that some people had paid for theirs. Maybe it's regional?

[casmgn]

Oct 28, 2012 10:59:57 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

We did not have a sign for the last pres election b/c we were torn about voting gop or 3rd party. This year we do have a RR sign, mostly to show support - since in this blue state people that lean right often feel they need to keep quiet about their beliefs- We want to show them that it's OK to not follow the herd around you. Not that we support RR so much, but they are the choice we are making. There are actually tons of RR signs in our town - very few O signs. It seems those on the right are feeing more passionate in this area lately.

Don't you live in a red county?