Jessamine County, KY Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Jessamine County Code § 30.01 is the county's political sign provision. The Fiscal Court established an electioneering-free zone within 300 feet of the entrance to any building containing a polling place on any election day. Inside that zone, no person may loiter or congregate, hinder or delay a voter, or solicit or try to influence a voter in casting a vote. Subsection (B) defines electioneering broadly: it includes displaying signs, handing out campaign literature, cards or handbills, collecting petition signatures, and soliciting votes for or against any political party, candidate or ballot question.

Subsection (C) carves out private property. Electioneering inside a private residence or business is protected when the person holds a lease or ownership interest and everything stays inside the building, out of sight and hearing of voters going to the polls. Political signs on private property or at a private establishment inside the zone are also allowed, at any distance from the polling place, but only if the sign is not accompanied by a person, emits no sound, is not audio-visual or mechanical, and is no larger than 4 square feet.

Enforcement is set by § 30.02: any precinct election officer, the County Clerk, a Deputy County Clerk or any law enforcement official can enforce the rule at the polls within 300 feet of the main entrance to the building where the voting machine sits, and can ask any law enforcement officer for help. Section 30.03 adds that polling grounds, buildings, sidewalks and parking lots are nonpublic forums for election day, so they do not count as public places. The ordinance was passed 10-5-2004 as Ord. 04-31. Nicholasville and Wilmore have their own codes, so this section governs only unincorporated Jessamine County.