How Many Lawn Signs Do I Need For My Campaign?

Lawn signs have become a given for elections in the last three decades, but knowing how many lawn signs for campaign success can stump even experienced campaigners. A basic rule of thumb for estimating the total number needed is to calculate one sign for every 30 registered voters in your district. However, several factors can alter that base number. Some key factors to consider include the size of the election (off-year versus a larger presidential or gubernatorial race), the expected voter turnout compared to the total number of registered voters, and your desired vote percentage goal.

First, gather some information. Check your district’s numbers for registered voters and take a look at the last few elections for voter turnout percentage. Add up the numbers for registered voters and voter turnout, then divide by the number of elections you gathered numbers from to achieve your averages. From there, you should have three numbers in mind:

*Number of registered voters
*Percentage of voter turnout
*Your vote goal percentage

When you have these numbers in mind, you can calculate how many lawn signs to use for campaign planning with more accuracy. To determine this number, multiply the total number of voters by the expected turnout, then multiply that result by your vote-goal percentage. Since political lawn signs have been shown to increase candidate name recognition by six to ten voters per sign, your final total should be divided by six to ten. Divide by six when you’re confident you have plenty of display locations, and your district is compact. Ten is more realistic for rural districts with fewer high-traffic areas available for sign placement.

Example:

2,000 registered voters
40% expected turnout
52% vote goal

5,000 x .40= 2,000
2,000 x .52= 1,040
1,040/6= 173

This is your base number of needed signs. Before settling on a total number to order, however, also consider how you will realistically get your signs into the hands of your supporters, and the price breaks associated with the number of signs you’ll be ordering. Consider the total above as your base number of signs.

The final thing to consider before purchasing your signs is location. Where are your signs going, how many locations can you count on, and are your signs going to be visible to your voters? If your district is spread out through a rural area, your signs may not make a big impact on local traffic and voters. In this case, you might consider instead to purchase large road or highway signs and placing them in strategic places where local traffic travels. If you live in a more compact urban area, consider the amount of voter-facing private property that has ground capable of being staked into. Once you’ve considered everything that can impact your signs’ visibility, give us, PoliticalLawnSigns.com, a call for a quote!