SEAT PROJECTIONS & RIDING DISCUSSION -- SELECT PROVINCE/TERRITORY OR RIDING

Public Space

Author: Fadi Dawood (Liberal)

19 Sep

Coming from a city that did not allow any form of signs on public space; I find the by-laws in Kingston a bit strange. Having election signs on public property makes the campaigns look desperate. It also makes the streets of the city look dirty. Polluting the streets of the city with any political signs should be banned. As an individual currently living in Kingston I don’t understand the reason why signs have to be place on public property in order to create advertising for a candidate.

But let me be clear I think election signs are useless; campaigns spend a lot of money and they waste material that destroys the enviroment in order to create a buzz around the canadiate. Now why can’t candidates and campaigns advertise in the media and create the same effect desired. Michael Gravelle the MPP for Thunder Bay Superior North gave out trees with his signs during the last provincial election now maybe the candidates in Kingston should give a free tree to the public for every sign placed on public property.

Filed under: Eastern Ontario, Fadi Dawood (Liberal), Ontario, Sign Wars

7 Responses for "Public Space"

Bob Loblaw September 19th, 2008 at 6:43 am 1
While your idea about the trees is a novel one, you’re patently wrong about signage.

Election signs have been proven to directly affect voter sentiment. Election studies have shown ridiculous facts like:
1% of voters admit to voting for the last sign they see before getting to the voting booth.
A percentage of voters will often vote with the status quo – determined by the signage in their neighbourhood.
People are often affected by what their direct neighbours think, especially when new to an area.
Signage is important for increasing voter awareness about the candidates’ names and their party affiliation. Just remember, not EVERYONE in this country cares as much about politics as we do….
Bill Dunk-Green September 19th, 2008 at 7:06 am 2
Didn’t the Supreme Court rule that an outright ban on public advertising was illegal? I know that Toronto has strict rules but it is still possible here to put up election signs and other types of advertising materials.
Nick J Boragina September 19th, 2008 at 7:12 am 3
As someone who has worked on the inside on election campaigns, I can say that election signs do work. I can also say that placing signs on public property is a common practice.
Jason September 19th, 2008 at 7:14 am 4
Well I agree with Bob Loblaw that signs do have an important role, I firmly support the idea that signs should not be permitted on public property–they should be permitted only on private land. I put signs up on my lawn every election to show that I support a particular candidate, and when I see signs on my neighbours’ lawns, it does make me think, “Hey, so and so is voting for such and such.” But signs of public land have no effect.
Skinny Dipper September 19th, 2008 at 7:24 am 5
I’ll agree that signs do work. They may be ugly, but they work. Signs alone will make very little difference. They do let voters know that the candidate is serious about wanting to win the riding. At the same time, the number of signs by a candidate does not always indicate overall level of support.
Gareth September 19th, 2008 at 9:51 am 6
The simple response is that if signs had little or no impact on the outcome of an election then very few candidates would use their resources in this way. Also, if signs on public property had no impact then we would not see signs “mysteriously” disappearing day in and day out. The sign war is real because most voters like to think that they are going to cast a ballot for the winner, and in many voters minds the math is simple:
# of signs=winner
Bill Dunk-Green September 19th, 2008 at 12:44 pm 7
You need enough signs fro voters to think you’re competitive — no more, no less.

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