Political signs in New Hampshire are popping up on lawns, along roadsides, and at busy intersections as Election Day approaches on Nov. 3. But do those campaign signs actually influence how Granite Staters vote?
Political yard signs are a familiar sight during election season, helping candidates build name recognition and show support in their communities. But not everyone appreciates the roadside displays, and some voters say the signs can actually turn them against a candidate.
This week, we asked Granite Post readers: Do political signs influence your vote? Why or why not?
Their answers ranged from outright annoyance to curiosity about which candidates have the most support. While many said they rely on their own research rather than campaign signs, others acknowledged that the signs can influence their impressions of candidates.
Do political signs in New Hampshire actually change voters’ minds?
For some voters, political signs in New Hampshire have little impact on their decisions. These readers say they’ve already made up their minds or prefer to form their own opinions about candidates.
“No, because I have decided, but I am interested to see how much support candidates have in the various towns I pass through.” — Jan Leavitt
“No, absolutely not.” — JoAnn Carlson
“No. People don’t influence my thinking by sticking a sign in the yard.” — James Thurston
Some New Hampshire voters say political signs are just roadside clutter
Not everyone welcomes the flood of political signs in New Hampshire during election season. Some readers say the signs create unnecessary clutter, especially when candidates put multiple signs in the same location.
“Not at all. They just junk up our road sides. If I haven’t been paying attention I may see a name I wasn’t aware was running. But that happens rarely.” — Alice Ward
“No. I research the candidate. Anyone can make a sign and those who put a dozen signs up in one place actually turn me off to that candidate. Don’t shove yourself down my throat!” — Wendi Tremblay
Can political yard signs actually hurt a candidate?
While political signs in New Hampshire are meant to attract support, some Granite Staters say they can have the opposite effect. For these voters, what’s on a sign, or where it’s placed, can be enough to turn them against a candidate.
“Yes, if they don’t INCLUDE their party affiliation and I remember their name on Election Day, they DO NOT get my vote.” — Gary Armstrong
“My neighbor has a huge sign that lists all of the people he is voting for. It blocks my view from being able to turn onto that (busy) street so I am going to vote against all of those candidates!” — Alli Iuliano
What political signs reveal about candidates and their supporters
Even when political signs in New Hampshire don’t directly influence a vote, they can offer clues about a candidate’s supporters and political affiliations. Some voters say they pay attention to which signs appear together in the same yards.
“Generally political signs don’t influence my vote too much. The exception is when I see a candidate’s signs displayed together with Free State Project aligned candidates. In that instance I assume they are all FSP aligned and will not vote for any of them.” — Craig Cunningham
“Mostly the signs don’t influence my vote, I just do my research. But I do take note of which signs I’ve seen together in the same yards over and over again. If there are certain signs that typically appear together, I tend to figure those people have a similar platform, and that can influence me a bit when I run out of research time on multi-vote questions.” — Robin Provost, Manchester
Political signs can help New Hampshire voters recognize candidates
Political signs in New Hampshire can also introduce voters to unfamiliar candidates, particularly during primary elections, or provide a glimpse of which candidates have support in a particular community.
“Political signs reiterate the names of the candidates to those that are walking or riding the roads of New Hampshire. I don’t think it makes people vote for one candidate or another but the influence is how many I see on land owners’ lawns. It is a thermometer of who has those people voting for. During a presidential election one road I always travelled on I counted how many Trump signs versus Biden signs to predict who was going to win.” — Sheila McCleery
“They have a positive aspect during primaries where I find there are candidates I don’t know. Otherwise they are just a nuisance.” — Chuck Machlin
Do political signs influence your vote?
From roadside clutter to candidate name recognition, political signs in New Hampshire are getting plenty of attention ahead of Election Day.
Don’t worry though, they won’t be around forever. According to state law, candidates must remove their political signs by the second Friday after Election Day.
For many Granite Post readers, researching candidates, understanding their positions, and examining their records matter far more than the number of signs lining the road.
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And, don’t forget to check our our voting guide.
Related: Political ads in New Hampshire are everywhere. Do they actually work?
