Ordinance on Voting and Election Posters - Content and Purpose

1. This regulation governs the posting of placards and advertising for federal, cantonal, regional, and municipal referendums and elections.

1bis It particularly serves traffic safety.

2. § 3 paragraph 2 is reserved.

1. Ballot and election posters and ballot and election advertisements within the meaning of this regulation are all visually and publicly perceptible communication measures that are directly or indirectly related to a ballot or election and are physically attached to a carrier or projected onto one.

2. Excluded are posters at official poster sites.

1. The regulation is binding for the municipalities of the Canton of Solothurn as well as for natural and legal persons.

2. The municipalities may issue supplementary provisions in a regulation, insofar as this regulation does not conclusively regulate the area.

1. The posting and attaching of voting and election posters, as well as voting and election advertisements on or around public property used by the community, is exempt from requiring approval.

1bis. It is not permitted to post or attach voting and election posters, as well as voting and election advertisements, on or around public property held for administrative purposes, such as administrative buildings, workshops, school buildings, detention facilities, and all related structures and facilities, including fences, shelters, barriers, protective installations, or poles.

2. Voting and election posters on lampposts must not exceed the size of format F4 (89.5x128cm).

3. The name of the responsible person, organization, or committee must be visible.

4. Voting and election posters must meet the traffic safety requirements in accordance with the Road Traffic Act (SVG) of December 19, 1958, and the Signage Ordinance (SSV) of September 5, 1979.

1. For reasons of road safety, referendum and election posters as well as referendum and election advertisements are prohibited, particularly at the following locations

a)* above the roadway, on and over bridges, tunnels, and underpasses;

b)* at locations where the visibility for road users is obviously restricted and thus traffic safety is compromised, such as in curves, at crests, railroad crossings, stops, construction sites, entrances or exits, or at intersections;

c)* inside and up to 20m around roundabouts;

d)* on signals and up to 10m around signals;

e)* within the clearance profile of the road;

f)* on highways and expressways, their facilities and ancillary installations as well as the associated perimeter of accesses and exits;

fbis)* in the area of pedestrian waiting zones and up to 20m in front of them;

fter)* on sidewalks and traffic areas if they obstruct pedestrians.

g)* ...

h)* ...

i)* ...

j)* ...

2. In addition, referendum and election posters as well as referendum and election advertisements are prohibited,

a) that could be confused with traffic signals;

b) that are independently illuminated or projected in the area of roads;

c) that, due to their obvious conspicuousness (type, size, or color), distract too much from the traffic situation and thus can impair traffic safety.

1. Voting and election posters, as well as voting and election advertisements, may be erected or displayed no earlier than the seventh last Saturday, 7:00 a.m., before the ballot and must be removed no later than one week after the ballot.

1. The competent municipal or cantonal authorities may informally request the responsible parties to remove posters that contravene this regulation within a reasonable period.

2. If the request is not complied with, the competent municipal or cantonal authority may order the removal within 3 days under threat of substitute performance.

3. Voting and election posters, as well as voting and election advertisements that impair traffic safety, are removed without prior consultation with the responsible person or organization by the police or the competent district building authority and disposed of in the event of recurrence.

4. Voting and election posters that are erected or affixed outside the time limit of § 6 may be immediately removed and disposed of by the municipality or canton without prior warning of substitute performance.

5. The costs of the substitute performances are borne by the responsible persons or organizations.

1. The municipality may designate locations where poster placement is permitted or prohibited.

2. Designated locations or changes to already designated locations must be communicated to the State Chancellery at least 3 months prior to the next referendum or election. The relevant protocol excerpt must be attached to the notification.

3. The State Chancellery maintains a list that is continuously updated and can be obtained by parties, political groups, candidates, or interested parties.

4. If no locations are designated, it is assumed that the municipality agrees to poster placement throughout the entire municipal area, subject to §§ 4-6.

1. Voting and election posters, as well as other voting and election advertisements on private property, are subject to the approval of the property owner and the provisions of this ordinance.