Strange and Funny Political Laws

Posted by – Dale Mathes, Code Enforcement Officer

Having worked in law enforcement and code enforcement for more than 35 years, I’m a sucker for those lists of wacky laws that somehow are still on the books.

This being the political season, with elections from President to college trustees, I spotted this list of strange political laws I’d wanted to share.

1. State of Texas – a voter cannot bring a spear or sword to the polls (sounds reasonable)
2. McCook, NE – one cannot wear roller skates to vote
3. Wheatfield, IN – a woman is prohibited from wearing a halter top, shorts, or a bathing suit (doesn’t say anything about men)
4. Elizabethtown, KY – one may not attend a rally barefoot
5. Crookston, MO – voters may not eat popcorn while listening to a political speech (huh?)
6. Alwoodville, CN – citizens cannot play Scrabble while waiting for a political speech (too many letters?)
7. My Favorite – Waterbury, VT – political campaigners are prohibited from “telling lies or fabricating stories” (what fun is that?)

Here in Auburn Hills, we have very few rules regarding political activity and they mostly deal with political signs.  The City considers these signs to be a matter of freedom of speech.  Citizens certainly have a right to express their political views via signs.

However, there are a few common sense restrictions that candidates, their supporters, and citizens need to be aware of.  These restrictions deal with the placement of political signs.  Such as:

1. On election day, they are prohibited within 100 feet of a voting precinct’s doors.
2. They may be placed only on private property with the owner’s consent and must be removed seven days after the election.
3. They are not permitted in the right-of-way or public property.

Right-of-way is not considered private property and can lead to visibility issues with motorists and pedestrians.  Signs placed in these areas are subject to removal by Code Enforcement Officers.

What is the right-of-way?  The easiest way to define it is the area between the sidewalk and the adjacent street.

Easy enough … but what if there is no sidewalk?  Then it’s necessary to look for other indicators such as utility lines above, utility poles, or fire hydrants below.  Between these landmarks and the street is considered the right of way.

So, these are the only limits that Auburn Hills has placed on election activity.  I guess after reviewing others’ strange political laws, our rules seem pretty simple and straight forward. Unlike Comal County, TX which has banned our favorite – Mickey Mouse – from running for office.  That doesn’t seem fair.