I have often wondered what is the purpose of political yard signs. Other than letting other people know how you will vote, what good do they do?
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Ohhh it’s like a show of hands. 
Ever seen people LOOK around the room???
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I see them in the same vein as like, flags for sports teams or alma maters. Or bumper stickers. Just an expression of solidarity.
I don’t think they do much toward actual marketing or campaigning, but there’s also something to be said about normalization of candidate support. It signals to others what statements are socially acceptable, whether someone might share your values, the kind of political culture in the area, etc.
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Orrrr…
if you’re a little blue dot in a red sea, it gives your good neighbors a target to act-out upon.
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I’m a blue dot in a Red Sea. I put my Harris Walz 2024 magnet on my truck. Every time I walk out of a store I check to see if it’s been removed or my truck has been keyed 
. But I feel it’s important to have a voice. And I am entitled to my vote. So I persist.
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I’ve ordered a rainbow Harris Walz bumper sticker. I can’t wait to put it on, but like you, I do fully expect my vehicle to be keyed or dented or for it to be ripped off. But I also am tired of being cowed and quiet about my support. I’m very vocal about it now and I won’t be quiet or pretend I’m not voting for who I am. Despite the repercussions. Sad thing is that’s how I fully expect the Rethuglicans to act in my area - with violence, vandalism and aggressive targeting of anyone they deem not a Trumper. True domestic terrorists. They try to bully and intimidate just like their leader.
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Solidarity, just a message. I think it used to be more common; when I was a kid, there were a lot more, and I used to guess which neighbors would support which candidates… mostly GOP except for my house and a few others. (Dad was registered GOP until he gave up on ever seeing moderate choices.)
DH and I have had yard signs for local candidates we liked, especially in tight races. And we still have our “Hate has no Home Here” sign, and thanks for the reminder that I needed to pull weeds around it. But on our street there’s just one right now, a small Trump sign. Our across the street neighbor had a Biden-Harris sign but he took it down after Biden dropped out. I’ve seen a few where the upper half that said Biden has been cut off.
Oh the person in the town where my mare lives, who has a bunch of signs and flags supporting conservative causes and candidates, just put up a very small Trump sign; it’s almost lost among everything else. I found out that the guy is a veterinarian who does house calls. Seems to have good reviews.
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I think most of what goes on in campaigns seems to be a waste of time and money (e.g., yard signs, flags, bumber stickers, etc). I have found that the current campaign has put up such horrible choices that my news reading in the morning takes less time since I bypass any election related articles.
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I can see two good reasons for yard signs.
At the primary level, I think they really do raise name recognition. We have a gubernatorial candidate’s sign on our lawn right now. (Our primary for everyone but president is not until September.)
At the general election level, particularly for president, I am not sure they will change minds, but I feel they create a little peer pressure to vote. Especially if you feel like you are a minority in the area, it might not feel quite so hopeless if you know there are others who will vote your way.
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Make sure to also check for people lurking around waiting to jump you. People are crazy out there.
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Honestly sometimes when people drive REALLY aggressively tailgating me I wonder if that’s why. I try to be super aware.
I find it all kind of sad really…. My innocuous magnets don’t say F Trump…. Or any of the things I’ve seen on the other side’s vehicles like Fu**k Biden… Joe and the ho have to go… Or even let’s go Brandon. So if some weirdo Trump supporter takes it upon themselves to act like an idiot I will be ready, but I will not feel bad about voicing my opinion, which is my right as an American citizen and what I have on there is not as offensive as what they put on theirs.
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I’m 80% sure it’s because of your magnet LOL. It is sad that people get upset over it, but at the end of the day your safety is more important and it might not be worth it to keep it there. People are BATTY. I once saw a house with a Biden flag sandwiched between two houses with Trump2024 flags in a neighborhood FULL of Trump2024 flags. I’m not that brave, that’s for damn sure.
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You’re right people are nuts. My elderly mother (80’s) was verbally accosted in a WalMart in rural Ohio in 2021. Do you know for what? For wearing a freaking mask. This psycho redneck was SCREAMING at her to take it off. That she was a sheep. If I had been there I’m pretty sure I’d have been arrested for assault. It would have been worth it.
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Here in Red Republican MAGA SC I don’t dare display a sign or have any stickers on my vehicles. The bat-shit crazy Trump cult followers around here seem to open carry guns and have in-your-face attitudes. If I had a yard sign I’d be worried about my horses being shot at. What a sorry state of (non)civility our nation has developed.
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I don’t do yard signs or bumper stickers. It seems to be frowned upon in my state, which I appreciate. If discussing religion and politics is impolite, I’m not bringing it up to everyone that drives by or sees me in traffic. I used to have political stickers when I was in my 20s, but it was pretty homogeneous where I lived, so it was easy.
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Or solidarity.
That’s how we look at it, we put out signs for local lesser known candidates we like.
I did the same with masks
The other day the store I entered was pretty empty and I was going to not put my mask on.
But then I saw a lady with a mask on so I put mine on too, so she we wouldn’t be alone.
I have a “nevertheless she persisted” sticker on my car. I need to take that and my lil stick figure family off my car before I send it to auction. And that makes me sad.
I loved that car, and I’m only finding shit out there to replace her.
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Old crone here, but general election season used to feel fun and celebratory and hopeful. Yard signs put up as part of - believe it or not - seasonal decor. In other words, it’s election season so of course we’ll be putting out signs! Solidarity, friendly rivalry, peer pressure to vote, name recognition…Yes all of this.
Nowadays it’s quite a bit different although my little adopted hometown area had houses displaying signs supporting both Rs and Ds for the 2008 and 2012 races.
We also have TONS of American flags flying everywhere. Including off my front porch, weather and mood permitting. Doubt I’ll put up an election sign, but I might.
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I have a flag that says Pro America. Anti Trump. I do not put it at the back of my property. By my barn and acreage. It’s by my house. On my shed. I would never risk my horses. My house and property has two road entrances. One to the barn. The other to the house. My barn is off a different cul de sac tucked in. I’m so tired of the crazy Trump bullies making people feel afraid. I’m not afraid anymore. I’m hopeful. And vocal. It’s my right. I won’t go back. Just like my elderly neighbor who has a sign that says that. We won’t go back. Done with being small. And quiet.
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Aaaand I’ve become quite the gym rat. I work out 6 days a week. Early. I wear my Kamala shirts and my Vote it Removes stubborn orange stains shirt weekly. Lots of Trumpy males there. Not a peep. 🫣. I’m tired of being quiet.
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