Polling Place & Sign Rules

Political Campaigning Outside of Polling Places on Election Day

1. Political campaign signs at the polling place on Election Day may be regulated by the presiding officer. 17 V.S.A. §2508.

The law was amended in 2001 to give more authority to the presiding officer on the day of the election. The presiding officer can prohibit all signs from being placed in the ground or affixed to anything on the property of the polling place. However, the presiding officer cannot prohibit a person from standing and holding a sign outside the polling place as long as the person does not hinder or impede the progress of any voter going into or out of the polling place. For the day of the election, the presiding officer can adopt a policy to allow signs to be placed in certain areas as long as the policy is applied evenly to all candidates or political issues regardless of the political content. The presiding officer can limit the size or number of signs per candidate.

2. Candidates or political activists can stand outside of polling places on the day of election and hand out brochures or “palm cards” to voters as long as they do not hinder or impede the progress of voters going into and out of the polling place. 17 V.S.A. §2508.

There is no specific number of feet away from the polling place limitation in Vermont law. It is up to the presiding officer at each polling place to set reasonable rules to allow voters to enter and leave the polling place without interference. The rules will depend on the physical characteristics of the each polling place. Generally the presiding officer will come outside early in the day to explain to all interested persons where they can stand and greet voters, where they can stand to hold signs, and where they can stand to offer printed information to voters. In our experience, most people generally abide by the rules established by the presiding officer without any problems. If there is a problem, the presiding officer can call a law enforcement officer for assistance.

No political literature, buttons, or other political materials can be DISPLAYED inside the polling place. 17 V.S.A. §2508.

However, any voter can bring a small brochure, card, or paper into the voting booth with him or her to assist the voter in casting his votes. The voter must remove the literature and take it out of the polling place when he or she has finished voting. We strongly suggest that presiding officers arrange to have either an election official or volunteer check the voting booths frequently to make sure that no literature has been left in the booths.

3. Exit polls or surveys can be done outside of the polling place as long as a voter voluntarily offers to participate and the persons conducting the polls or surveys does not hinder or impede the progress of the voter as he or she enters or leaves the polling place. 17 V.S.A. §2508.

No person (not even town officials) can be allowed to distribute surveys or questionnaires inside the polling place.

4. Any person can park a car, van, or truck in a legal parking space on a public street or in a public parking lot with a political campaign sign displayed even in the vicinity of the polling place.

If the car is not legally parked, the presiding officer can ask a law enforcement officer to arrange to have the car moved. If the car is legally parked, the display of the sign is not illegal.

5. In establishing reasonable rules for campaigning outside of the polling place, the presiding officer must establish a sufficient number of parking spaces to allow voters with disabilities to have access to the polling place, or to have two election officials bring ballots out to the disabled person’s car.

Candidates and Municipal Officials Guide to Placement of Political Campaign Signs

The Office of the Secretary of State, Elections Division has no authority to regulate placement of political campaign signs. However, to assist both candidates and municipal officials, we provide the following brief guide to laws in Vermont that may govern temporary political signs.

1. You must obtain permission of the property owner before you place any sign.

2. It is a violation of criminal law to put a sign on any utility pole in Vermont. 13 V.S.A. §301

3. The Agency of Transportation (Travel Information Council) enforces Vermont’s sign law. 10 V.S.A. §§481-506. According to these statutes:

• Signs may not be located within state highway rights-of-way or attached to a state or town sign, post or guardrail. Most highway rights-of-way in Vermont are at least three rods, or 49.5 feet. This means that signs must be placed at least 24.75 feet away from the centerline of most highways.
• Signs should be removed immediately after the election.
• Signs may not be attached to trees.
• Signs may not interfere with, imitate, or resemble any official traffic control sign, signal, or device; or appear to attempt to direct the movement of traffic.
• Signs may not be located in a way that prevents drivers from having a clear and unobstructed view of official traffic control signs and approaching or merging traffic.
• Signs may not be positioned so that they are readable primarily from a limited access facility (which includes the interstates and ramps and some other highways—such as US 7 between Bennington and Dorset).
• Signs must be in good repair and securely affixed to a substantial structure.

Enforcement: The Travel Information Council is authorized to order the removal of any illegal off-premises, on-premises or exempt sign. If the sign is within the state highway right-of-way, the Agency of Transportation may remove a temporary sign that is not affixed to a substantial structure, without prior notice.

4. On town highways temporary campaign signs may be displayed for a period of not more than two weeks within the highway right-of-way because they are exempt from the state sign law under 10 V.S.A. §494(9). Enforcement on town highways is the responsibility of the legislative body (selectboard).

5. Temporary political campaign signs on public or private property may also be regulated by either a local sign ordinance (24 V.S.A. §1971 and §2291) or a municipal zoning bylaw (24 V.S.A. §4404). Political signs may not be banned altogether, but they may be regulated by reasonable, nondiscriminatory rules as to size, location, and duration that apply equally to all temporary signs. The zoning administrator or another town official cannot summarily remove signs that violate local ordinances. The locally adopted sign or zoning ordinance must be enforced according to the terms of the ordinance as established in accordance with the state enabling statute.

Look at our Guide to Town Clerks to find out if a town has adopted a zoning bylaw. If a town has adopted a zoning bylaw, the guide provides the hours that the zoning administrator can be reached. The zoning administrator can explain the town rules for temporary signs. You can check with the town clerk to find out if a town has adopted a sign ordinance.

6. On public property owned by towns or public schools, the legislative body (selectboard or school board) may have adopted ordinances, regulations or policies that either prohibit placement of temporary political campaign signs or that allow placement for a short duration subject to size limits and number of signs per candidate limits. If the board has adopted rules or policies, just ask the clerk for a copy of the rules and follow them.

If the board has not adopted a rule or a policy, then each candidate must ask the board for permission to place a sign. We strongly suggest that it will be easier for all involved if the local boards will adopt a clear policy.

The policy can be short and sweet. We suggest that the board consider the following:

• A clear statement of where on the public property signs will be allowed or that no signs will be allowed on public property, if the latter, you can stop here;
• A reasonable limit on the number of signs per candidate or issue;
• A reasonable time duration, such as temporary signs can be displayed for no more than X weeks;
• A limitation on size of each sign, in exact terms such as 2 ft by 3 ft, not “small”.