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Henderson County limits campaign signs at county-owned voting locations
Summary
The Commissioner’s Court approved an amended order restricting campaign signage on county-owned vote-center properties: maximum three yard signs per candidate/property, H‑wire mounting (no T‑posts), a 100‑foot electioneering buffer and display limited to the Friday before early voting through the day after Election Day.
HENDERSON COUNTY — Henderson County Commissioner’s Court on Feb. 17 approved an amended order limiting campaign signage on county-owned voting properties to reduce safety concerns and property damage.
County counsel Straum told the court the order is meant to keep county voting sites safe and avoid excessive sign clutter. “So there are restrictions which we can do, but they’re limited in scope,” he said, urging the court to remain within the Election Code when crafting rules.
Under the order adopted by the court, county‑owned voting locations will be limited to three yard‑sized signs per candidate or organization at each property, with a maximum sign dimension discussed at 30 by 30 inches and an installation height not to exceed 42 inches. The court also agreed the signs should be mounted on standard H‑wire frames (no T‑posts) and not attached to fences or structures. The order directs that signs be displayed beginning the Friday before the first day of early voting and removed the day after Election Day, and it keeps electioneering and signage outside the 100‑foot zone required around polling activity.
Straum said the proposal includes penalties enforced through local law enforcement when violations occur. “It is a class C violation to violate this ordinance,” Straum said in explaining enforcement options and the county’s interest in preventing damage to county property such as fencing.
Commissioners discussed practicalities — including typical sign sizes (18 by 24 inches vs. larger 30‑inch variants), potential blind‑spot hazards near the fairgrounds and the need to coordinate on site layout with the elections administrator and the fairgrounds manager. Commissioner McCam moved to approve the order with the interlineated amendments; Commissioner Spivey seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
The court directed county staff to interlineate the agreed height and mounting language into the final order and to coordinate implementation with the elections administrator.
The order applies only to county‑owned vote‑center properties and does not change private‑property signage rules.
