Ghosts Of Elections Past: What Are These Signs Still Doing Here?

Although Election Day was over a month ago, some signs still remain - this shot was taken during the recent December snow in Ocean County. (Photo by Jason Allentoff)

  OCEAN COUNTY – We’re nearing two months since Election Day 2019 and the essence of those election campaigns is still lingering throughout the county…literally.

  Maybe you’re on your morning commute to work, driving through your local neighborhood, or heading out to do some holiday shopping when you see it: an election campaign sign still hanging on.

  You’re not the only one.

  Micromedia Publications even has one outside our Lakehurst office, calling for voters to choose McGuckin & Catalano for New Jersey’s 10th legislative district. Which they did…on November 5.

  So why are these signs still standing so many weeks after elections? Who is responsible for them?

  According to Kevin Enright of the Ocean County Board of Elections, the candidates or assigned groups who placed the signs are also responsible for their removal.

Photo courtesy Mo Hill Campaign

  In Micromedia’s case, considering that NJ’s 10th district is comprised of Bay Head, Brick, Island Heights, Lakehurst, Lavallette, Manchester, Mantoloking, Pt. Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights and Toms River in Ocean County, it might be safe to assume that McGuckin has had some help placing those signs.

  Tom Bonfonti, Executive Director for the Ocean County GOP, told Jersey Shore Online that the majority of election campaign signs you see are put up with help from the community.

  “The process of putting up lawn signs is a rather simple one. The significant majority of the lawn signs are put up with the assistance of folks in the local community. Those signs are all also taken down after Election Day by those same people,” Bonfonti explained.

  Essentially, if you put a sign up, you take it down. That is also a good way of keeping a record of where signs are located, through the accountability of the public.

  However, not everyone or every group follows through with that, as evidenced by leftover signs.

  Bonfonti added that, “Outside of that process, volunteers and supporters will often ask for signs. When a volunteer takes a sign they will most likely be placing it on their own lawn. Sometimes, those volunteers put them up in public and do not inform us.”

  This is likely the case with the signs still lingering, he said. And that goes for any campaigns that were part of this recent election.

  “We advise everyone to take down their signs after Election Day. We also ask the folks who help us put them out originally to take down signs of ours (even if they did not place them originally) if they see them when they are out and in the community,” said Bonfonti.

  Moral of the story: if you see a lingering sign, grab it and recycle it.