Campaign sign thieves risk losing voting rights

SALT LAKE CITY —  With the election approaching, local election officials warn that stealing campaign signs is a crime. Committing this crime can come with a cost; the right to vote. 

Utah has rules regarding campaign signs. The state only allows signs on private property if the owner approves. And some cities, as well as the state, have rules around where they cannot be placed,  like on overpasses.

Two candidates running against each other in Layton for a seat in Utah’s House both report their signs being stolen.

Representative Steve Handy, who is running a write-in campaign for his seat back, said he’s never seen anything like it in his years of running for different elected positions.

“I’ve been in a number of campaigns, in this city running for the city council. I’ve never had anything like this,” said Handy. “Finally, I put my foot down. I’m sick of it. I filed a police report.”

Candidate Trevor Lee had a similar experience, “I have already filed three police reports for all the signs I have had stolen.”

Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie said, stealing or defacing signs also falls under Utah’s election law. Committing the crime can come with a cost; the right to vote.

“It’s really important that people understand that the removal or defacing of a campaign sign is a crime under our election statute. It’s a class B misdemeanor for somebody who is found guilty of something like this.”

Related:

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• County clerks report more poll watchers, scrutiny ahead of Utah primary