One pet peeve I have as a North Dakotan is a ridiculous state law that requires North Dakotans to remove political campaign signs they have posted on their own property on election day.  Because apparently we citizens are so stupid we might just vote for whoever we last saw a sign for on the way into a polling place.

Tonight is the night we’re supposed to take the campaign signs down to be in compliance with the law which reads:

16.1-10-06. Electioneering on election day - Penalty. Any person asking, soliciting, or in any manner trying to induce or persuade, any voter on an election day to vote or refrain from voting for any candidate or the candidates or ticket of any political party or organization, or any measure submitted to the people, is guilty of an infraction.

If you violate this law you will be found guilty of a Class A Misdemeanor.

Now, by my reading of this law even talking to your neighbor about who to vote for on election day makes you a criminal.  Even just having a campaign sign up on your lawn makes you a criminal (though the authors of this bit of inanity were nice enough to exempt bumper stickers).  And indeed, even political talk radio in the state (outside of the nationally syndicated shows) move to non-political topics on election day.

As far as I’m concerned, this law is a violation of the first amendment and North Dakota citizens should ignore it.

Starting this morning I’ve been getting emails from campaigns reminding citizens to take down their signs.  The candidates are just complying with the law, but personally I think it’s time for a little civil disobedience.

It’s a small matter, perhaps, but free speech means free speech.  If they want my campaign signs, they can come and get them.