By MARK TODD
Staff Writer
mtodd@starbeacon.com
When it comes to Ohio law, there's apparently no such thing as too early to erect a political sign.
Communities may strongly suggest a time period, but the Ohio Supreme Court, in a years-old ruling, decided such restrictions violate free-speech rights.
Some signs touting candidates and issues for the general election can found in Ashtabula County, even though the election won't be held until Nov. 7. People may grumble, but the law sides with the candidates.
In 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Painesville law firm cited by that city for hanging a campaign sign more than 17 days in advance of the election, a violation of a city ordinance.
The law firm appealed and the case went to the state's highest court. Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, in the opinion, said Painesville's law was "unnecessarily over-restrictive" and "precludes candidates from determining themselves the best strategic timing for the posting of their signs," according to information the court's Web site.
Traditionally, the election season begins on Labor Day for a November general election, according to the Web site.
The court did agree communities could prepare a "narrowly drawn, municipal ordinance imposing reasonable restrictions on the display of temporary signs including political yard signs."
A call around the region indicated many communities try to confine political signs to the month before the election. Spokespeople at the Lake and Geauga county election boards said the unwritten rule among their respective communities is to not post signs until a month before the election.
Calls placed around Ashtabula County turned up no laws on the books aimed at political signs.
Local News
No restrictions on political signs
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