Election poster bans in Schwaan: residents breathe up!

Election poster bans in Schwaan: residents breathe up!

in Schwaan, a cozy city in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, is currently bubbling in the political landscape. On July 19, 2025, the city council re -sparked the discussion about election posters, and for good reason. After the municipal elections in 2024, several residents have loudly complained about the placement of the election advertising. The reason: the helpers of the parties were unabashedly stuck in their living room because the street lanterns are simply too close to the houses, as [ndr] (https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/rostock/woin-schwaan-keine-kahlplakate- Mehengen-duerfen--duerfen-392.html).

Overall, the decision of the city council concerned 16 streets in Schwaan. This measure should not only ensure the protection of the privacy of the residents, but also promote a harmonious living together in the city. "There is something," the Schwaaner could say when they hear the news. The ban will certainly ensure conversation.

election posters under control

But dealing with election posters is not only a hot topic in Schwaan. Throughout Germany, parties have to adhere to strict rules if they place their election advertising. As explained on KOMMANTAL.DE, these regulations vary from municipality to municipality. For example, while the posters in Regensburg can be hung up three months before the election, the poster sleds are only drawn in Berlin seven weeks beforehand.

Important to know: Election advertising is not only a creative undertaking, but is also subject to the protection of freedom of the press in accordance with Article 5 of the Basic Law, as well as the party privilege. This means that parties are responsible for their content and that the municipalities have to decide on permits to set up advertising material.

uniform security standard and fairness

Anyone who thinks that freedom of election advertising can disregard the limits of security and fairness is wrong. The regulations state that election advertising is not allowed at traffic lights or pedestrian crossings, for example. No traffic safety is affected here, nor does the impression of equal opportunities between the parties are in danger. The AfD posters recently had to remove posters in Cuxhaven because an unequal treatment of the parties was uncovered, as explained kommunal.de.

Another point is the minimum distances for the posters. In order to ensure that everything remains within the framework of the legal requirements, large posters must not be closely positioned than three meters to the edge of the road and smaller posters. Stability is also a must - weekly reviews are compulsory here.

The election posters must be removed again at the latest one week after the election. Even more strict in Berlin - the whole spectacle has to be cleared within a week. It becomes clear: Voting advertising is a narrow degree between creative representation and the compliance with rules that should apply to everyone so that everything is done a bit.

In Schwaan, the city council has proven a good hand to protect the residents and at the same time ensure that the election advertising is in order. It remains to be seen whether the regulations in the whole country can ensure more justice in election advertising, but the discussion is anything but irrelevant. After all, everyone wants their voice really counting and does not remain hidden behind posters.