A large, prominent Michelle Bond for Congress sign was placed on the white, South-facing fence of the Smithtown Cemetery where River Road meets 25A.
The sign was placed there on the Monday before last Tuesday’s Election Day and was removed Saturday, August 27.
“There is enough public land,” said Charles Bunton, a cemetery trustee. “You don’t need to put [a political sign] in front of a cemetery.”
“I see any cemetery as sacred ground,” stated Bunton, who expressed the historic nature of the cemetery where his wife’s family has a large family plot.
Churchgoers of the adjacent First Presbyterian Church and cemetery visitors took immediate notice of the obvious signage, raising many questions, such as this: did the cemetery lend support to Bond in the Republican primary?
As strange as it sounds, that was one of the assumptions people made. Unsurprisingly, the cemetery does not engage in politics and takes no political stance.
Based on current law, the Smithtown Cemetery should not have had a sign placed on its fence. However, many places simply should not have lawn signs that do.
As reported by campaigntrailyardsigns.com, “Campaign yard signs are prohibited outright from any controlled-access highway or expressway-type road,” and “all temporary signs should be removed three days after the event’s conclusion.
Many misplaced signs cause maintenance issues, such as with the mowing of grass beside roadways. These signs generally face obliteration at the hands of municipal workers.
The Suffolk BOE does not keep statistics on sign infractions, with much of the system being an honor system of sorts.
However, if you are unsure about signage rules, you can always call the New York State Board of Elections.
You can call a campaign directly if you believe its signage is improperly placed. They will usually oblige a lawful request, but keep in mind: rogue supporters may take liberties with signage outside of the candidate’s wishes.
A representative from the Bond campaign was not available for comment.
