Aargau government does not want to tighten rules for election advertising
In the canton of Aargau, political parties will continue to be allowed to post political advertisements along the streets up to eight weeks before election and referendum day without requiring a permit. The cantonal government has rejected a third motion from the Center Party to shorten the period to six weeks.
Since 2016, the Grand Council has already decided twice on the issue of shortening the display period for election and voting posters, the cantonal government states in the statement published on Friday. Parliament clearly rejected both proposals.
According to the cantonal government, the problems that admittedly arise with posters around elections and referendums can only be solved to a "very limited extent" by shortening the time it takes to put them up. The problems such as fixed dates, large numbers of candidates, limited space, impact on the landscape and townscape remain unchanged.
In the motion, Central Councillor Ralf Bucher, Managing Director of the Aargau Farmers' Association, called for the permit-free period for political street advertising to be shortened to six weeks. This would mean that the same rules would apply as for events.
The population is annoyed by the many posters and the clubs are annoyed that, unlike the politicians, their sporting or cultural events can only be advertised for six weeks without a permit. It is enough to be noticed shortly before the elections and not eight weeks in advance - that tends to dull people's senses.
Different rules in the cantons
The Government Council points out that the requirements in the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Lucerne, Solothurn and Zurich have not been changed in recent years. The cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Lucerne and Solothurn stipulate an installation period of six weeks.
According to the cantonal government, the canton of Zurich has no special regulations for temporary advertising, not even with political content. In the canton of Zurich, election posters are generally regarded as street advertising requiring a permit. A proposal for liberalization is currently pending in the canton of Zurich. (SDA)
