I've always wondered about the exception made during the campaign season.

This year, I've noticed the difference:

"Too late to keep twp. free of campaign signs" - Examiner, 10/25/07:

Something's missing from street corners this election season.

Democratic candidate William Nurko, a former mayor and committeeman, decided not to use campaign signs this year.

Nurko said that [...] he read about Old Tappan in Bergen County that [...] "during election season you won't find a single political sign littering the yards or fields in the borough."

"All this in an effort to keep [Old Tappan's] rural character - much [like] my desire and goal for Millstone Township," Nurko said.

[T]he RCEC and Kinsey "respectfully declined" Nurko's request to run their campaign without signs.