These 3 NJ Cities Most Annoyed By Political Yard Signs: Survey

NEW JERSEY — Residents of three New Jersey cities are among those most irritated by their neighbors' political yard signs, according to a new survey.

To find out where campaign and political signs are causing the most contention, writers at the pop culture website Geek Nexus surveyed 3,000 homeowners and ranked 175 cities based on the level of irritation sparked by these inevitable yard signs.

The survey found that Garden State residents are among the least tolerant of their neighbors’ political signs, with three cities emerging among the most irritated by them.

According to the survey, residents of Elizabeth (which ranked in 52nd place nationally), Newark (57th) and Paterson (139th) were the most annoyed when their neighbors erected political signs in their yards.

"While New Jersey may not be a battleground state, it seems residents of these cities would prefer if their neighbors kept their political views a bit more private — at least when it comes to yard signs," the writers at Geek Nexus said. "Whether it's a disagreement over political beliefs or simply the cluttered look of campaign slogans across the neighborhood, many locals would likely agree that a little less lawn politics could go a long way in maintaining good neighborly relations."

Residents of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, emerged as the most annoyed by political yard signs, followed by Little Rock, Arkansas, and Pasadena, California.

Here's a look at the top 10 cities, according to the survey:

1. Fort Lauderdale, FL
2. Little Rock, AR
3. Pasadena, CA
4. West Palm Beach, FL
5. Portland, ME
6. Omaha, NE
7. Surprise, AZ
8. El Paso, TX
9. Ann Arbor, MI
10. Salt Lake City, UT

Beyond the rankings, Geek Nexus’s survey revealed some insights into the attitudes of New Jersey residents toward political yard signs. For example, 60 percent of respondents said they knew their neighbors’ political leanings, while 40 percent weren’t sure or preferred not to know.

As for the actual influence of yard signs, their opinion was split: 46 percent of people think these signs can sway voters, while 54 percent believe they’re just lawn ornaments with no real effect on election results.

Meanwhile, most respondents agreed there is a time and place for political yard signs, with 76 percent supporting the idea that signs should only be displayed during specific times of the year, like the lead-up to an election. And while only a small group (24 percent) admitted they might remove a neighbor’s sign if they disagreed with it, the majority (76 percent) were clear that they would not cross that line.