• Placement of campaign signs in North Carolina is regulated at the state and county level.north carolina outline image by Kim Jones from Fotolia.com
  
  Campaign signs are a familiar sight during election season in North Carolina. State laws and regulations govern where and how these signs, as well as other campaign materials, may be displayed.
  
  

Signs Along the Highway

• Political or other unauthorized signs cannot be placed in a North Carolina Department of Transportation right-of-way anywhere in the state; to do so constitutes a class 1 misdemeanor.
  
  

Signs on Electric Power Poles

• Political or other unauthorized signs may not be attached to electric company fixtures such as electric poles along highways or elsewhere. To do so is considered a class 2 misdemeanor.
  
  

Signs Outside Polling Places

• The Moore County Board of Elections is empowered by state law to set a "buffer zone" around polling places, where campaign signs and other electioneering are prohibited. State law provides that the buffer zone must be no closer than 25 and no more than 50 feet away from the entrance; as of 2010, the Moore County Board of Elections has set the buffer zone for all polling places at 50 feet. Campaigns may contact the Moore County Board of Elections for specific information about each polling place.
  
  Moore County Board of Elections
  
  PO Box 787
  
  Carthage, NC 28327
  
  910-947-3868
  
  co.moore.nc.us
  
  

Designated Area for Electioneering

• The County Board must, in most cases, also designate an area for election-related activity (talking with voters, distributing literature) adjacent to the buffer zone. The only exception to this requirement is where a privately owned building is being used as a polling place, and there is no such area available. In no circumstance may anyone display a sign, wear a button, T-shirt or other promotional item in favor of a candidate while inside the polling place.