Yard signs won't win an election by themselves, but they do real work that's easy to underestimate. Here's what the research says, what signs actually accomplish, and how to put them out so every one earns its spot.
What yard signs actually do
Every election season somebody says signs don't vote. That's true. Signs also aren't trying to change anybody's mind on the issues. Their job is narrower than that, and when you understand the job, you can do it well.
Name recognition
A lot of voters walk into the booth knowing very little about down-ballot races. County council, school board, judges, sheriff, soil and water commissioner: these names often get almost no news coverage. A voter who has driven past your name forty times this fall has at least heard of you. For a first-time candidate, that alone is worth a lot.
A signal that you're a real campaign
Signs tell people you're organized and that others are backing you. When neighbors see your name in yards up and down their street, it reads as social proof. People are more willing to take a candidate seriously when it looks like other folks already do. A campaign with no visible signs can look like a campaign that isn't trying, fairly or not.
Energy for volunteers and supporters
Signs are one of the easiest ways for a supporter to help. Asking a neighbor to take a sign is a low-pressure ask, and it gets them invested. Sign drop-offs also give volunteers a concrete task, which keeps people engaged between bigger events.
What the research says
Campaigns argued about signs for decades on gut feel. Then researchers actually tested them.
The best-known study is by Donald Green, Jonathan Krasno, Alexander Coppock, Benjamin Farrer, Brandon Lenoir, and Joshua Zingher: "The Effects of Lawn Signs on Vote Outcomes: Results from Four Randomized Field Experiments," published in Electoral Studies in 2016. The team randomly assigned some areas to get signs and others not, across four separate experiments, then compared results.
Pooled across all four experiments, signs raised the advertised candidate's vote share by a bit more than one percentage point on average. They also found some evidence that the effect spilled over into neighboring precincts that didn't get signs.
The honest takeaway: signs help a little, reliably, and they help most when voters don't already know much about the candidates. That describes most local races.
What signs don't do
- They don't persuade on issues. Nobody changes their vote because of a slogan on an 18 by 24 inch sign. Keep the message to your name, the office, and maybe a short tagline.
- They don't replace contact. Talking to voters directly is still the heavy lifting of any campaign.
- They don't predict results. A street full of signs tells you who's enthusiastic, not who's going to win. Plenty of candidates have won the sign war and lost the election.
- They don't work if nobody can read them. A crowded design with small letters is wasted plastic. See our yard sign design tips for what reads from a moving car.
How to deploy signs smartly
Where your signs stand matters more than how many you print. A hundred signs in the right places beat five hundred scattered at random.
Supporter yards first
A sign in a supporter's front yard is the most valuable sign you've got. It's on private property with permission, it signals a real neighbor's endorsement, and it usually stays put. Build a list of supporters willing to host one and work it street by street.
High-traffic intersections, with permission
Busy corners, entrances to neighborhoods, and roads near polling places get the most eyes. The catch is that a lot of those spots are public right-of-way, where many cities and states don't allow signs at all. The safe move is to find a business or homeowner on that corner and ask to place a sign on their property. Get a yes before you put it in the ground. Our guide to sign placement rules walks through what's typically allowed.
Timing
- Check your local code first. Many towns have rules on how early temporary signs can go up and how quickly they must come down.
- Get signs out early enough to build name recognition. Repetition is the point.
- Plan a final push for the days right before early voting opens and before Election Day, replacing stolen or damaged signs as you go.
- Hold a reserve. Signs disappear, get mowed over, and blow down. Ordering some extras up front saves a rush order later.
| Placement | Strength | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Supporter's front yard | Personal endorsement, protected on private property | HOA covenants; ask the host to check |
| Business at a busy corner | Lots of traffic, high visibility | Owner permission in writing is smart |
| Public right-of-way and medians | Visible, but risky | Often prohibited; signs can be removed |
| Near polling places | Last thing a voter sees | Electioneering buffer zones set by state law |
Disclaimers: the "Paid for by" line
Most campaign signs need a disclaimer saying who paid for them. For federal candidates, the Federal Election Commission generally requires a "Paid for by" disclaimer on printed public communications, set apart in a printed box. The FEC's advertising and disclaimers guidance also gives a safe harbor of 12-point type for signs no larger than 24 by 36 inches.
State and local candidates fall under their own state's rules, and those vary. Some states spell out exact wording; others are looser. Before you send artwork to print, check with your state election commission or ethics agency. This is general information, not legal advice, and when in doubt ask your campaign treasurer or an attorney.
Cleanup after Election Day
Pick your signs up fast. Many local codes set a deadline for removing temporary signs after an election, and neglected signs can bring fines. Beyond the rules, a quick cleanup is good manners and good politics. Voters remember the candidate whose faded signs were still leaning in a ditch at Thanksgiving.
- Assign volunteers to routes ahead of time so cleanup isn't an afterthought.
- Collect stakes separately. Wire H-stakes are reusable, and so are signs if your name and office stay the same.
- Store signs flat, out of direct sun. Corrugated plastic is built for a season, and UV is what wears it out.
- Thank your sign hosts. They're your first call next time.
Getting the order right
The 18 by 24 inch sign on a wire H-stake is the workhorse for yards. Larger 24 by 36 inch signs earn their keep at busy corners where cars are farther away. Keep the design simple: your name biggest, the office second, high contrast, and few words. If you're running for the first time, our campaign signs page lays out the common options, and our design team can set up a clean, readable layout that meets your disclaimer requirements.
Quick questions
How many campaign signs should I order?
It depends on how many supporter yards and permitted corners you can line up, since placement matters more than raw count. Start with your host list, then add a reserve for signs that get stolen, damaged, or blown down.
Do signs help candidates who are already well known?
Signs seem to matter most when voters know little about the candidates, which is why they're especially useful in local and down-ballot races. A well-known incumbent may get less from them than a first-time challenger.
Can I reuse my campaign signs in the next election?
Often, yes, if your name and office stay the same and the disclaimer is still accurate. Store them flat and out of the sun, and keep the wire stakes, which are reusable.
Are campaign signs required to say who paid for them?
Federal candidates generally need a Paid for by disclaimer on printed communications under FEC rules, and most states have their own disclaimer rules for state and local races. Check with your state election commission before printing.
MySignPal guides are general information to help you plan. Print specs vary by printer, and sign rules vary by city, county and state; confirm local requirements before you install.