Can You Place Political Signs Anywhere In Michigan?
Unless you've been living under a rock, like, a massive boulder, I'm sure you're very aware we are in an election year and it is nearly election day, November 5th. It almost feels like everywhere you look Harris-Walz or Trump-Vance signs are lining the streets or your neighbor's lawn.
But with this in mind, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has pretty specific rules about where you can actually place these political signs and where you can't.
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Use Your Voice (Respectfully)
Putting campaign signs in your yard, bumper stickers on your car, or putting signs up in your business declaring who you support are all perfectly okay. That's because those places are considered private property. Those are your signs on your property, and cannot be messed with in any way.
stealing or defacing political signs is a misdemeanor that can carry a maximum penalty of a $500 fine or imprisonment of up to 90 days in jail.
So even if you don't like the other candidate or the sign owner, they have every right to put it there. Getting caught stealing signs is more trouble than it's worth. However, public property is another story.
No Signs Allowed
Generally, it is illegal to put signs on public property. Many of the signs you see placed on electrical poles, along the road, etc. have been illegally placed there. Signs that are illegally placed are removed by MDOT crews and kept for 7 days before being discarded. These illegally placed signs can be reported here.
According to the State of Michigan, only candidates who have requested and received permission may place political advertising on along public roads, highways, and interstates. Approved advertising has very specific parameters beyond that.
So, here's the takeaways:
Do:
- Put signs on private property
- report illegal signs to MDOT
- If you're looking to remove signs, remove the illegally placed ones on public property
Don't:
- Put signs on public property
- Take people's signs from private property
If you vote early or show up to vote on November 5th, these are the stickers you could receive.
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