Political Advertising Signs
Town of Fremont NH - Information regarding Political Advertising Signs
NH RSA 664:17 Placement and Removal of Political Advertising:
“No political advertising shall be placed on or affixed to any public property including highway rights-of-way or private property without the owner’s consent. The candidate shall remove all political advertising no later than the second Friday following the election unless the election is a primary and the advertising concerns a candidate who is a winner in the primary. Signs shall not be placed on or affixed to utility poles or highway signs. Political advertising may be placed within State-owned rights-of-way as long as the advertising does not obstruct the safe flow of traffic and the advertising is placed with the consent of the owner of the land over which the right-of-way passes.
No person shall remove, deface, or knowingly destroy any political advertising which is placed on or affixed to public property or any private property except the owner of the property, persons authorized by the owner of the property, or a law enforcement officer removing improper advertising. State, City, or Town Maintenance or Law Enforcement Personnel may remove political advertising placed on or affixed to any public property. Political advertising removed prior to election day by state, city, or town maintenance or law enforcement personnel shall be kept for one week at a place designated by the state, city, or town so that the candidate may retrieve the items."
As it pertains to the highway right-of- way provision, the Fremont Select Board, after consultation with the Fremont Town Clerk and Moderator, has outlined the following guidelines:
No political signs shall be placed on Town Property outside of the road right-of- way.
Within the road right-of-way [generally 13 feet from the edge of pavement or travel way], signs may only be placed with the direct abutter’s permission. This refers to the abutter on that side of the street.
At the polling entrance, unattended political signs may be placed only on the actual polling day during open polling hours [7:00 am to 8:00 pm]; and only in the designated area as determined by the Moderator. The designated area will be appropriately marked and placed in an area that will not obstruct or hinder the safe flow of traffic. Candidates are only allowed to place at most 2 signs in the designated area. (This designated area allows the Town of Fremont to abide by the Attorney General’s rules). Signs shall be removed immediately following the election.
A candidate or the candidate’s representative must attend all other signs which will be permitted in an area designated by the Moderator in accordance with RSA 659:43.
If you have any polling-related questions, please call the Town Clerk at 603 895 8693 x 307.
The Town of Fremont designates the Fremont Safety Complex as the storage location for any political advertising signs removed for improper placement; or those found after having been displaced by wind or weather conditions. Contact the Town Clerk for further information.