Campaign signs are a form of protected speech, however there are regulations on when they can be posted.

State regulations say that yard signs cannot be on public property until 30 days before the election. They must be 10 feet away from the entrance of polling locations on election day and they cannot be in the street's right of way. Signs are prohibited from being attached to fire hydrants, utility poles, fences, and trees.

Other regulations, such as size requirements, vary by municipality.

Erie News Now sat down with the chairmen of both political parties in Erie County to get their advice on what makes proper campaign etiquette.

"I would say do not steal other people's signs. Do not damage other people's signs," said Erie County Democratic Chairman Jim Wertz. "This is political speech. It's a protected right of people to be able to go out and voice their support for their candidates. If you disagree with them, that's fine, but have a discussion don't steal their signs."

After the election, both parties will work to remove the signs from public property win or lose. Both campaigns ask supporters to look out for and help gather all signs.

If the signs aren't removed, the party can be fined. If supporter do not wish to keep their signs, they're encouraged to either dispose of the sign or bring them to the candidate's respective office. 

"People are supposed to be able to express, not only verbally, but with the use of signs their feelings towards certain policies, certain candidates, certain parties," said Erie County Republican Chairman Tom Eddy. "The idea of some people coming and taking signs away is bad manners. It's really interfering with what free elections are all about. Putting your signs up on your property without interfering with other people's signs, I think, is proper etiquette"