Campaign Signs
Political signs are one of the most visible aspects of a campaign. The following information is provided as a reference only. The Sarpy County Election Commission is not the official record keeper, nor does it manage the content of any of the external resources linked below. If a website or local ordinance changes, the Election Commission is not always immediately notified. Please contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Last Updated Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
On Election Day, no electioneering or gathering petition signatures is allowed within 200 feet of any portion of the building which is being used as a polling place. Some examples of electioneering includes:
- Posting signs that display a ballot measure's number, title, or subject matter or a candidate's name, likeness, logo or symbol
- Disbursing literature that draws reference to a candidate, officeholder, or ballot measure
- A button, hat, pencil, pen, shirt, sign, or sticker containing a candidate's name, likeness, logo or symbol
A person may display yard signs on private property within 200 feet of a polling place or building designated for voters to cast ballots if the property is not under common ownership with the property on which the polling place or building is located.
To report electioneering violations at polling places on Election Day, contact the Sarpy County Election Commission at 402-593-2167.
No person shall do any electioneering within 200 feet of any secure ballot drop box. Some examples of electioneering includes:
- Posting signs that display a ballot measure's number, title, or subject matter or a candidate's name, likeness, logo or symbol
- Disbursing literature that draws reference to a candidate, officeholder, or ballot measure
- A button, hat, pencil, pen, shirt, sign, or sticker containing a candidate's name, likeness, logo or symbol
To report electioneering violations at ballot drop boxes, contact the Sarpy County Election Commission at 402-593-2167.
Clicking any of the below links will cause you to leave the Sarpy County Election Commission website. The election commission does not manage the content of these websites. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
City of Bellevue
- Party Headquarters. On-premises political signs are permitted on the premises of political headquarters located in the Business, Commercial, Manufacturing, and Institutional districts (BCC 22B.10.030), and on office buildings in the office and apartment districts (BCC 22B.10.040), so long as the signs meet the requirements of those districts.
- Headquarters for Candidate or Ballot Issue. On-premises political signs are permitted on the premises of the headquarters of a candidate for public elective office (whether partisan or nonpartisan) or on the headquarters of persons supporting or opposing a public issue decided by ballot, when such headquarters are located in the Business, Commercial, Manufacturing, and Institutional districts (BCC 22B.10.030), and in office buildings in the office and apartment districts (BCC 22B.10.040), so long as the signs meet the requirements of those districts.
- Political signs promoting or publicizing candidates for public office or issues that are to be voted upon in a general or special election may be displayed on private property.
- Such signs shall be removed within seven days following the election; provided, that signs promoting successful candidates in a primary election may remain displayed on private property until seven days following the immediately subsequent general election.
- Political Signs Not Allowed on Public Utility Poles or Public Buildings or Structures. It is unlawful for any person to paste, paint, affix or fasten a political sign on any utility pole or on any public building or structure.
- Political Signs Within Public Right-of-Way. Political signs may be posted within public right-of-way only if the sign does not create a traffic obstruction or hazard. Political signs in the right-of-way are limited to a maximum surface area of four square feet and a maximum height of five feet. A political sign promoting or publicizing candidates for public office or issues that are to be voted upon in a general or special election must be removed within seven days following an election; provided, that political signs promoting successful candidates in a primary election may remain displayed until seven days following the immediately subsequent general election.
- Responsibility for Removal of Signs Following Election. It shall be the responsibility of the above campaign officer or responsible official to have the signs removed.
- The display of any political sign in violation of subsection E of this section, or any portion or part thereof, shall be presumed to have been done at the direction and request of the campaign officer or responsible official.
City of Gretna
- A political sign exhibited in conjunction with the election of political candidates. Such signs may not exceed six square feet in any residential zone and 32 square feet in any other zone. Only six political signs shall be allowed per zone lot at any one time. All such political signs shall not be erected more than 45 days before the election and shall be removed no later than 10 days after the election.
City of La Vista
- All signs and structures shall be kept in good repair and in a proper state of presentation. signs are not to be greater than 32 square feet.
- No sign shall be placed at any location where it may interfere or obstruct the view of any traffic sign, signal or device or constitute a hazard to traffic.
- No sign shall be located on or extend over the right-of-way of any dedicated street, highway or public way pedestrian sidewalk.
- No sign shall be located on any property without the consent of the owner, holder, lessee, agent or trustee.
- All signs must be 12 feet back from residential streets; 25 feet from 66th, 72nd, 96th and 108th streets, Giles Road and Harrison Street; and 50 feet from 84th and 144th streets. NOTE: Political signs may NOT be displayed on any city-owned property.
- All political and election signs shall be removed within ten (10) days following the election to which they relate.
City of Papillion
- [Amended 5-7-1996 by Ord. No. 1215] Temporary signs for nonprofit civic campaigns or events, political campaigns or other noncommercial events are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from permitting requirements, subject to the following requirements:
- Such signs are installed no earlier than 45 days before the date of the event or election and removed no later than 15 days after the date of the event or election.
- The maximum size of such signs is 10 square feet when located in any residential, O Office and LC Limited Commercial Zoning District; and 100 square feet in any other zoning district.
- Signs painted on vehicles and placed in a stationary location on a repetitive basis so as to function as fixed signs are considered temporary signs and are subject to the restrictions of this section.
City of Springfield
- Temporary signs for non-profit civic campaigns or events, political campaigns, or other non-commercial events are permitted in any zoning district and are exempt from other provisions of this Article, subject to the following requirements:
- Such signs are subject to the permit procedures set forth in this section.
- Such signs are installed no earlier than 30 days before the date of the event or election and removed no later than 7 days after the date of the event or election.
- The maximum size of such signs is 10 square feet when located in any residential zoning district; and 100 square feet in any other zoning district.
It is unlawful to place political campaign signs, or any signs, on state highway and interstate rights-of-way. This includes intersections, medians, entrance and exit ramps, sidewalks and the ditches and land that make up the right-of-way bordering the length of each roadway. Right-of-Way markers, fence-lines, or the placement of utility poles can often be used to visually determine where the right-of-way is located.
Maintenance crews with the Nebraska Department of Transportation will remove any signs that are improperly placed within the State’s rights-of-way. These signs will be stored for a brief period of time at the State’s Department of Transportation maintenance yards where owners may reclaim them.
The District Permit Officer at the Nebraska Department of Roads Office is in charge of the Advertising Control Program. If you have any questions concerning the placement of political signs along state and federal highways, please call 402-471-0850, Ext. 1132.
For further information, please visit dot.nebraska.gov.
Department | Jurisdiction | Phone Number | Website |
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Sarpy County Election Commission | Polling Places and Drop Boxes | (402) 593-2167 | Link |
City of Bellevue Code Enforcement | City of Bellevue | (402) 293-3050 | Link |
City of Gretna Building and Zoning Department | City of Gretna | (402) 332-3336, ext. 1202 | Link |
La Vista Police Department | City of La Vista | (402) 331-1582 | Link |
City of Papillion Building Department | City of Papillion | (402) 597-2072 | Link |
Springfield City Clerk | City of Springfield | (402) 253-2204 | Link |
Sarpy County Public Works | County Roads | (402) 537-6900 | Link |
Nebraska Department of Transportation | Interstates and Highways | (402) 595-2534 | Link |
Clicking any of the above links will cause you to leave the Sarpy County Election Commission website. The election commission does not manage the content of these websites. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Department | Phone Number | Website |
---|---|---|
Sarpy County Sheriff's Office | (402) 593-2288 | www.sarpy.gov/sheriff |
Bellevue Police Department | (402) 293-3100 | www.bellevuepd.com |
La Vista Police Department | (402) 331-1353 | www.cityoflavista.org/police |
Papillion Police Department | (402) 597-2035 | www.papillion.org/police |
Clicking any of the above links will cause you to leave the Sarpy County Election Commission website. The election commission does not manage the content of these websites. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
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Emily A. Ethington
Election Commissioner
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Michelle Boyland
Chief Deputy Election Commissioner
Election Commission
1102 E. 1st Street, Ste #1
Papillion, NE 68046
Directions
Phone: 402-593-2167
Fax: 402-593-5770