Cities are allowed to have their own laws on campaign signage

Michael Klinski
Michael Klinski
Freelance Editor/Reporter
michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org

Yes.

South Dakota state law requires that campaign signs from right-of-ways be taken down within seven days of an election.

For the South Dakota GOP gubernatorial runoff election between Larry Rhoden and Toby Doeden held on July 28, signs would have needed to be taken down by Aug. 4. State law doesn't list what the potential punishment is for breaking the law.

Cities are allowed to have their own laws on campaign signage, as long as it doesn't conflict with the state law.

According to the same state law, signs can be placed on private property "adjacent to a transportation right-of-way no later than 10 days prior to the day when absentee voting in a primary or general election begins."

The South Dakota Department of Transportation reminded residents earlier this year that political campaign signs are not allowed on state highway rights-of-way.

ℹ️
This fact brief responds to claims such as this one.

Sources

South Dakota State law, Display of campaign signs

Dakota News Now, SDDOT reminds public not to put election signs on state highway rights-of-way

South Dakota Department of Transportation, General guidelines for political and other temporary signs

About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by South Dakota News Watch as part of the Gigafact network. Submit a question for us to answer on the tipline.

South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact freelance reporter Michael Klinski: michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org.