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Gaston County officials frustrated over repeated campaign sign vandalism: 'Never seen anything like this'

Incident marks third time in just two weeks just days ahead of election day

GASTONIA, N.C. — Police in Gastonia are digging into another incident that saw someone damaging campaign signs ahead of the 2024 election

The most recent incident happened outside the Gaston County Democratic Party headquarters. Caroline Reid, the second vice chair of the organization, says it's become a problem for the group. This incident is the third time in two weeks damage has been done to political signs at the party's headquarters. Security cameras caught the perpetrator on camera running directly into a Harris-Walz campaign sign. 

"I've never seen anything like this," Reid said. "In past elections, people have been very cooperative and understanding, not vandalizing our signs." 

The party's frustration is tied to the amount of time and effort involved with the signs, not to mention the financial resources used to replace damaged property. 

RELATED: Advocacy group calling for the removal of signs at polls they say intimidate and target Latino voters

"We spend a lot of money on our signs and for them to get torn down on several occasions, it's just not ordinary here in Gaston County," Reid said. 

The issue has become more common all over the region. Political science professor Scott Huffmon said officials have seen an uptick in election-related vandalism involving political signs. He added this election season has brought new challenges when it comes to supporting candidates. 

"People kind of showing their anger in the defacement leaving them there to face instead of simply stealing them," Huffmon explained. "And even more concerning, we've seen violence and lighting fire to ballot drop-off locations that has happened in three different states." 

Many hopeful voters can shift their action to the ballot box. Huffmon says it's more productive for folks to organize on Election Day so their voice is heard lawfully. 

"People need to solve the problem of the election at the ballot box and not through defacing the political signs of the other side or through intimidation at voting places," he said. "And certainly not setting ballot drop-off boxes on fire." 

Early voting in North Carolina runs through Saturday, Nov. 2. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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