OR 2022-1589 Political Signs at Polling Locations1
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ORDINANCE NO. 2022-1589
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL,
TEXAS, BY AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, AS
HERETOFORE AMENDED, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 6 “BUSINESS
REGULATIONS’, ARTICLE 6-15 ‘TEMPORARY SIGNS’ BY
REPEALING SECTION 6-15-7 ‘POLITICAL SIGNS AND POLLING
PLACES’ IN ITS ENTIRETY AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW
SECTION 6-15-7 ‘POLITICAL SIGNS AND POLLING PLACES’,
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COPPELL, TEXAS
SECTION 1. That the Code Ordinance of the City of Coppell, Texas, as heretofore
amended, be, and the same is hereby amended by amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 6,
‘Business Regulations’, Article 6-15 ‘Temporary Signs’ by repealing Section 6-15-7 ‘Political
signs and polling places’ in its entirety and replacing it with a new Section 6-15-7 ‘Political signs
and polling places’ which shall read as follows:
“CHAPTER 6 – BUSINESS REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 6-1. – MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
. . . .
ARTICLE 6-15. – TEMPORARY SIGNS
Sec. 6-15-1. – Purpose
. . . .
Sec. 6-15-7. – Political signs and polling places
1.Definitions.
The following words and phrases as used in this article shall have the meanings as
set forth in this section:
Canvassing shall mean the act by word or conduct to solicit political support or
opposition to a candidate for elective office, to support or oppose a ballot
proposition or political issue.
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Electioneering shall mean the posting, use, or distribution of political signs or
literature, including the use of tents, chairs, booths, tables or other furniture or
devices to post, use or distribute political signs or literature or other canvassing for
or against a candidate for elective office or proposition.
Polling location(s) as used in this Chapter shall mean the North side of Town
Center as depicted and noted on Fig. 1 during a voting period as authorized by the
state election code.
Political signs shall mean a temporary sign whose message is to support or oppose
a candidate for elective office, or ballot proposition, or in favor or opposition to
otherwise comment on a political issue or legislation.
Voting period shall mean the period each day beginning the hour the polls are open
for voting and ending when the polls close or the last voter has voted, whichever is
later on Election Day and early voting days
2. Political signs:
(A) Political signs are permitted on private property if:
(1) Does not have an effective area greater than 36 square feet;
(2) Is eight feet or less in height;
(3) Is not illuminated; or
(4) Does not have any moving elements.
(B) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this Section, political or electioneering
signs are not permitted to be affix on any public property or right of way or
attached to any building, tree, shrub, pole or other improvement therein.
3. Regulations and Offense at Polling location.
(A) The following regulation offenses apply to electioneering at the polling location
on public property during the voting period subject to the following:
(1) It is an offense for any person to engage in electioneering or canvassing
on traffic portion of any parking lot at the polling location unless
otherwise designed by the local election official. This restriction shall
not apply to electioneering signs that are attached to vehicles that are
lawfully in operation or parked at a lawful designated space at the
polling location.
(2) It is an offense for any person to engage in electioneering or canvassing
within 100 feet of the entry of any polling place during a voting period.
(3) It is an offense for any person to attach, place or otherwise affix any
political or electioneering sign, literature or material to any building,
tree, shrub, pole or other improvement at polling location.
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(4)It is an offense for any person to place an electioneering sign with a
support element, stake, poles, prong, or element greater than 3/32 of an
inch (3/32”) into any traffic islands adjacent to the driveway portions at
the polling location where there are electric conduit or irrigation
systems.
(5)It is an offense for any person to place an electioneering sign at a polling
location that exceeds 36 square feet and is more than eight feet in height,
including any supporting poles or elements.
(B)In addition to imposing any criminal penalty, electioneering sign(s) located in
violation of this section may be removed and disposed of by the entity in control
of the polling location.
(C)The authority to conduct electioneering and canvassing on public property
under this article is limited to the polling location where the voting is conducted
during the hours that the polls are open for voting.”
SECTION 2. That all provisions of the Code of Ordinance of the City of Coppell, Texas,
in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and all other
provisions not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. That should any word, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase or
section of this ordinance, or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be adjudged or held
to be void or unconstitutional, illegal, or invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of said ordinance or the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, which shall
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 4. That an offense committed before the effective date of this ordinance is
governed by prior law and the provisions of the Code of Ordinance, as amended, in effect when
the offense was committed and the former law is continued in effect for this purpose.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its passage
and the publication of its caption, as the law and charter in such cases provide.
DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas, this the 11th day of
October, 2022.
APPROVED:
ATTEST: TM 131759
Created in Civil3DS:\CAD\In_Design\ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT\dwg\ENGINEERING 2022.dwg\TOWN CENTER ELECTIONCreated on: 6 October 20221 INCH = FT.0707035AREA OF RESERVEDPARKINGAREA OF UNDERGROUNDHIGH VOLTAGE POWERAND IRRIGATION PIPING.NO POSTS DRIVEN INTO GROUND45'x45' SIGHT TRIANGLE.NO SIGNAGE OR OTHEROBSTRUCTIONSAREA OF PERMITTEDON-PREMISEELECTIONEERINGTOWN CENTER BLVD
E PARKWAY BLVDAREA OF PROHIBITEDON-PREMISEELECTIONEERINGTown CenterPolling Location255 E. Parkway BoulevardPermitted On-Premise Electioneering