SMITHFIELD – As election season approaches, Johnston County officials want to remind all political candidates and campaign teams to follow local ordinances regarding campaign signs.
Candidates may display signs up to 60 days before an election and must remove them within 10 days after it. Signs should not exceed 48 square feet or 8 feet in height, and cannot be placed on utility poles, trees, or light fixtures. Additionally, signs must not block drivers’ views at intersections. For signs placed along state highways, approval from the NC Department of Transportation may be required.
“After reviewing our website this weekend, we noticed the site did not include the timeframe for placing political signs in rights-of-way in our area. We have since updated the website to reflect the correct information,” said Johnston County Board of Elections Director, Leigh Anne Price.
That specific information comes from the N.C. General Assembly § 136-32 and notes that 30 days before early voting begins, and up until 10 days after the election, political signs are allowed in state highway rights-of-way, but they must be placed following specific rules to ensure safety. Candidates must remove these signs by the end of the designated time frame.Johnston County urges candidates to comply with these guidelines to avoid penalties or the removal of signs. For more information, please contact the Johnston County Planning Department at 919-989-5150 or visit the Johnston County Board of Elections website.
