CANMORE – A public hearing and potential decision on the future of election signs on Canmore municipal property could be made in the coming days.
Canmore council could decide as soon as July 2 whether it wants to go down the path of fully restricting the placement of election signs on municipal property.
But its impact on future elections will be a wait-and-see.
Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, said such signs are often a gauge of voter engagement, particularly when placed on private property.
“It indicates somebody’s a bit more engaged, more willing and more likely to come out and vote and to influence others with their vote,” she said. “If there are a lot of signs, that can be a good indicator that a candidate is doing well and likely to win. We do see a correlation between the number of private property signs and the likelihood of success.”
She said signage can cause more awareness for the public when an election is upcoming, but it can also influence people on who to vote for as well as motivate them to take part in voting.
Williams added signs on public property aren’t as correlated to success the same way ones on private property are but can have an impact since they can be present in locations people frequent.
“I would say the impact is probably not zero, but not as great as when it’s on private property,” she said.
Little research has been done on the impact election signage has on candidates being selected by the public, but a 2015 study analyzed the effectiveness signage had on private property in the four 2014 Alberta by-elections.
“I do think lawn [election] signs play a role in informing people that a municipal election is coming up, encouraging them to do research, make a decision and go vote on election day,” said Janet Brown, a pollster and political commentator who completed the 2015 study with Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt.
She noted research from the 2014 by-election was solely on private property, but it remained an “old technology” that’s still an “integral part of any local candidate’s campaign. … It’s probably the thing a candidate spends the most time and money on.”
While signs have been a traditional method to get a candidate’s name out to the community, many candidates have turned to social media, campaign websites, newspaper advertising and mailouts to reach voters.
According to the financial disclosures from 13 of 14 Canmore candidates in the last election, a total of $22,475.98 was spent on signage of the combined $63,314.59. It was the highest single amount, with stickers, advertising, mailouts, brochures, door knockers and websites being other expenses.
Coun. Wade Graham was the lone councillor without an itemized breakdown of expenses.
Canmore council first considered prohibiting election signs on municipal property when Coun. Joanna McCallum brought forward the motion in late 2021.
She previously attempted similar motions in 2013 and 2017, but they were voted down.
McCallum has said multiple times signs could still be put on private property, making it a greater priority for candidates to engage and talk to voters.
As the longest-serving elected official on council, McCallum has said hearing from community members is the most important part of campaigning rather than simply putting an election sign on public property.
“The bottom line is if you as a candidate are serious about putting your name forward as a councillor, you will go knock on doors,” she said at a March meeting. “We will find other more modern, less intrusive cluttering, less littering ways to actually get your message across and provide your vision to the people of Canmore.”
Williams said placing a sign on private property can influence people, especially since it’s a highly public way to declare support for a candidate or candidates.
“People on the fence aren’t going to get a lawn sign put on their property. … If somebody’s got a lawn sign on their property, that’s indicating to anybody who drives by and to their neighbours that this candidate or party has won their support. They’re willing to take a stand publicly,” she said.
Other council members have indicated that reducing election signs could give incumbents running for another term an unfair advantage since they have name recognition in the community.
Brown said rather than ban election signage on municipal property, more specific rules should be put in place.
“I can understand why they’re a problem for people, but I think it’d be better if Town council put some rules and regulations around how to use public property for lawn signs rather than ban them outright,” she said.
She highlighted Alberta's Election Act doesn’t prohibit a sign being put up on a person’s property, but people living in a condo or renting an apartment may be hesitant.
“In a smaller community, it’s harder to get information about your candidates. ... In our world where media is getting more dispersed, I think lawn signs are becoming even more important,” said Brown.
“No one’s arguing lawn signs don’t belong on private property, but there are certain people living in certain housing situations where it’s difficult to display a lawn sign.”
Council did explore potentially allowing four public locations for signs, but ultimately decided against that possibility.
The province doesn’t require a permit for an election sign along a provincial highway, but specific guidelines dictate the maximum size of signs, removal three days after an election, and not have moving parts or flashing or rotating lights.
Elections Canada doesn’t regulate campaign signs outside of a federal election, but requires candidates outline who authorized a sign’s message and no election signs being placed near a polling site. Though people can lodge complaints with the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections, most of the rules are set by the province and municipalities.
“Government agencies may remove signs that do not respect provincial or municipal laws, after informing the person who authorized the posting of the sign that they plan to remove it,” according to Elections Canada.
“If the sign is a safety hazard, government agencies may remove it without informing the person who authorized the posting of the sign.”
In neighbouring Banff, election signs are only allowed on private property and municipalities across the country have specific rules ranging from the distance needed from other signs to how close they can be to curbs, sidewalks and roads.
Both Williams and Brown said with voter turnout low for municipal elections, it’s important to not do anything that may impact people participating in democratic elections.
In the last six Canmore municipal elections since 2007, 24.56 per cent to 41 per cent of eligible voters turned out. Four of the six, however, have been between 38 per cent and 42.03 per cent.
“When it comes to municipal elections, voter turnout is low and awareness around elections is low. One of the things that concern me about outlawing signs on [municipal] property is those signs do inform people about the election,” Brown said.
“I can understand council may put rules to control those things like size, number of signs, but they do serve an informational purpose. Anything that might be seen as harming voter turnout I don’t think will go over well with the public. … Voter turnout is so low, so I think any move on a council that could stifle voting even more could be open to criticism that it’s anti-democratic.”
