Oct 15 2008
Yard Signs: Necessary Evil or Waste of Money?
I don’t know about your town and neighborhood but mine are awash in political yard signs this general election cycle.
Signs for President. Signs for US Senator. Signs for US Representative. Signs for state legislature. Signs for and against ballot measures.
I have six yard signs in my lawn alone.
But do they work?
As a political operative, every seminar I’ve gone to says don’t waste your money on yard signs. They don’t convince anyone, they’re expensive, and they can be a nightmare to manage because of a nasty opponent or vandals who pull them up. They you are busy replanting them.
But every candidate and ballot issues I’ve ever been associated with–from US Senator to governor to state legislature to school board–seems to think they have to have them. Even after I tell them as an experienced and well trained campaign manager and frequent volunteer that they are not necessary.
Candidates see their opponents’ yard signs and panic that they are in a “sign gap,” sort of like the old USA/USSR “missle gap” of the 1960s.
But candidate supporters are even worse. We all want to support our candidate or our cause. And what better way than a yard sign for the world to see.
While most candidates have gotten the message about not buying doo-dads like buttons, pencils, and other political chum, they just can’t help themselves about yard signs.
So, what do you think? Yard signs are effective, a necessary evil, or a big waste of money? Have you ever voted one way or another because of a yard sign?
I doubt it. And apparently I don’t take my own advice either.
2 Responses to “Yard Signs: Necessary Evil or Waste of Money?”
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Oh my gosh, you know one minute I would have been with you on they are a waste but I’d have to say from the experience of driving around my community and finding that I thought the majority would vote one way I was quite surprised to see another trend during this presidential election. They do work.
I think the rule of thumb would be if you are in an area that is a key state or area in an election and you are trying to get undecided voters I’d say spend money on them. If an undecided voter sees someone taking a chance on someone they were uncertain of, they’ll explore that candidate further.
When they’re piled next to each other at a stoplight or in a median, no, I don’t think they’re effective at all. When it comes to individual houses or neighborhoods, they can help you identify with your neighbors, or know which houses to egg in a couple weeks…plus they generally keep the opposition’s canvas teams away from your door.
We aren’t allowed to have yard signs in our apartment complex; however, several of the tenants, us included, have signs displayed in the window or in the rear window of our vehicles.