Stealing political yard signs is a crime. And political yard signs are effective, despite claims to the contrary.

If yard signs weren’t effective why do you think the Anarchists in Lake Worth, a small and ever-dwindling group, put so much time and effort over the years stealing and vandalizing political signs in the City? The answer is because political signs do work—just not in the way you might think they do. An article in Politico by Eliza Collins (excerpts below) is a very interesting read and explains how campaign signs are effective.

But first, besides being a crime, stealing signs in the dark of night is someone who is infringing on your right of Free Speech:

In March 2015, these two were spotted stealing political signs around the Lucerne building in Downtown Lake Worth. If your sign was stolen or vandalized:

Call the PBSO non-emergency number and report it: 561-688-3400. Whoever stole your political sign trespassed on your property and is disrespecting your right to Free Speech. Contact the campaign you are supporting and request another sign.


Other tactics are using bolt cutters to cut one of the metal supports to make the sign dangle awkwardly. That also forces the targeted campaign to order more stakes. Curiously, the Anarchists are the ones who always say “listen to the people” but they’re the ones out stealing other “people’s” right to Free Speech? Ironic, isn’t it?

Also note their use of zip ties demonstrates the value they place on their own preferred signs (made of #5 plastic non-recyclable chloroplast).

Anyhow, back to the article in Politico: the value in yard signs isn’t to increase an election turnout, their value is getting your name and message to those who will likely be voting on election day. The effect of political signs is small but nonetheless very effective. Here is an excerpt:

     “We were surprised by these findings, because the conventional wisdom is that lawn signs don’t do much — they’re supposed to be a waste of money and time. Many campaign consultants think that signs ‘preach to the choir’ and not much else,” Coppock [Alex Coppock, co-author of the study cited in Politico] said.
     “The effect is small in terms of percentage points, though the implication is that thousands of voters would have voted for someone else if not for the signs,” [emphasis added] Coppock said. “My guess is that part of the reason that the effect is small is because any campaign tactic — signs, ads, mailers, calls, etc — only move people around at the margin. In many ways, it would be strange if the effect were bigger. Imagine a world in which the presence or absence of lawn signs could swing an election by 10 points.”

And think of it this way, if the signs weren’t effective why would those crews be stealing them so furiously in the dark of night? Which leads to another question, If the Anarchists didn’t steal so many signs would the landslide re-elections in March of last year have been even more overwhelming?

Images and caption from The Lake Worth Herald on election night, March 2016.