The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Reed v Town of Gilbert on January 12, 2015. This is the case challenging restrictions on outdoor signs. Although it is not an election law case, all First Amendment cases inevitably affect election law. The Ninth Circuit had upheld the town’s restrictions on signs, both as to size, and as to how long they may remain up. The case was brought by a church that doesn’t have its own church building and depends on signs to inform the public of where its services are.
Don’t know what kind of church it is, therefore would be a little prejudiced if the church advocated against my spiritual beliefs.
Still, the right of the First Amendment must be upheld, no matter how offensive the church sign might read. For if we allow the Court to tell a church it cannot have a outdoor sign for instruction to its location, then that same Court could later tell the same church it cannot have a cross a steeple.
Sample principle could apply to 3rd political parties or a Independent sending a message regarding an issue or promoting a candidate. Free Speech must be the rule of the day in every occasion.
How about BIG balloons attached to the ground – with 24/7 attack ads ???
Might be tough on planes, birds, UFOs, etc. ???