Hamilton votes: 5 facts to know about election signs

The municipal election is Oct. 27, which means election sign season is coming.

In the coming weeks, the city will be blanketed with hundreds of signs, said Al Fletcher, manager of licensing inspections and enforcement. Election signs are governed by the citys sign bylaw section 5.9.

Here are five things to know about election signs:

1. They cant be displayed until Sept. 29.

Signs are forbidden until 28 days prior to voting day, unless theyre attached to a campaign office. They must be on a building or a portion of the building where the candidate maintains a campaign office, Fletcher said. This is in part so signs dont stay out indefinitely and become unsightly. The time limit is the same as provincial and federal regulations, he said. It does not include billboards.

2. They have to be on private property.

That means no road allowances or city parks.

3. The citys sign bylaw doesnt govern whats on them.

Theres nothing outlining what can and cant go on an election sign, Fletcher said. If an election sign was indecent, that would likely become a police matter.

4. Its reinforced on a complaint basis.

The city doesnt have enough staff to police every election sign, Fletcher said. So it mainly responds on a reactive basis. Usually a member of the public complains. The city will contact the candidates campaign headquarters, educate them about the sign bylaw and ask him or her to remove the sign, he said. If the candidate removes the sign, the city closes the case. If the candidate doesnt, the city can fine the candidate $250.

5. There have already been complaints.

Mayoral candidate Brian McHattie was the first to publicly bring up the election sign rule, saying signs for opponent Brad Clark on a front lawn near the Winona Peach Festival were illegal. Clark said the home was a temporary headquarters during the festival. Clark's campaign also provided photos of McHattie signs hanging in the windows of homes in Ward 1.

A member of the public complained about signs posted by Coun. Lloyd Ferguson of Ancaster during the Ancaster Fair this week. Ferguson has no campaign headquarters, Fletcher said, and is using a tent at the Ancaster Fair, which makes the signs legal. But challenger John Iachelli wasnt happy about it. I look to the city to address this item, he said.

The city has gotten about three complaints so far regarding election signs in general, Fletcher said. While hes expecting more, Im hoping for a quiet election time.