MDOT Reminds Candidates to Remove Campaign Signs
Mississippi's transportation agency is asking campaigns to clear political signs from state highway right-of-way after the 2026 season.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Elections
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The Mississippi Department of Transportation is reminding candidates and supporters to remove political signs as the 2026 campaign season closes. MDOT crews are removing signs illegally placed within state highway right-of-way.
Why it matters
Campaign signage adds to Mississippi's multi-million-dollar litter problem, and signs on steel or wooden posts can pose hazards to roadside workers and equipment. Clearing them protects both roadside crews and clear sightlines at intersections.
Signs are not permitted within areas needed for clear vision at intersections, and none are allowed in limited access right-of-way, where the right-of-way is typically wider near intersections. The total number of signs removed or still standing was not reported.
The players
Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT)
The state agency responsible for maintaining Mississippi's highways, including enforcing rules on signs placed within state right-of-way and running littering-prevention programs.
Brad White
A Mississippi public official quoted in the MDOT announcement reminding candidates to remove their campaign signs.
The details
MDOT crews remove signs placed illegally within state highway right-of-way and keep them for two weeks at a local maintenance facility before discarding them. Candidates may retrieve their signs from MDOT without penalty.
Timeline
The 2026 campaign season is coming to a close, with runoff elections upcoming.
Removed signs are held for two weeks at an MDOT maintenance facility before disposal.
Legal Context
The annual post-election sign cleanup enforces MDOT's longstanding right-of-way limits on state highways, which bar signs near intersection sightlines and within limited-access corridors. Enforcement is handled through removal and storage rather than penalties on candidates who reclaim their signs.
Candidates and supporters should remove campaign signs from state highway right-of-way promptly, since MDOT crews will remove signs placed illegally. Those whose signs are removed can retrieve them from MDOT without penalty.
The takeaway
Removing campaign signs promptly after an election keeps roadsides safe for crews and clear for drivers. Candidates who want their signs back can retrieve them from MDOT without penalty.
Further reading
For more on how campaigns operate across the state, see Elections coverage in Mississippi.
More information
Learn more about reducing litter from the MDOT littering prevention information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MageeNews.
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