Supporters of presidential candidate Donald Trump demonstrate outside Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign office on Main Street south of Paris Friday afternoon around 2 p.m. Around 4:30 p.m., the Advertiser Democrat learned from the Maine Secretary of State’s office that the protesters were in violation. of Maine’s law prohibiting political activity within 250 feet of a voting location. The Paris absentee voter drop box is located 20 meters across the street. Photo submitted

PARIS — When some residents saw that the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz campaign had opened a field office on Main Street in south Paris, the blue signage filling the storefront made them see red.

In response, a group led by resident Nancy Drew began protesting on the sidewalk with Donald Trump signs and honking horns, encouraging passersby to also express their displeasure…or support.

The Harris campaign and pro-Trump protesters were found to be violating Maine law.

The problem came to a head on Thursday, and by Friday afternoon, the Secretary of State’s Maine Department reminded the city of Paris that protesters are not allowed in the area.

On Thursday, a person called Paris police to complain when Trump supporters found themselves in the street parking zone and were unable to park their cars. Chief Mike Ward confirmed that an officer attended the scene and asked them not to disrupt traffic. He added that other than that, they had no indication of conflict and their top priority remained public safety.

A neighboring Main Street property owner said it appeared protesters positioned themselves near the entrance as if to make it difficult to enter or leave the offices at 20 Main St. Harris campaign workers and volunteers declined to comment on activities taking place on the sidewalk.

Republican demonstrators and Democratic political signs in the south of Paris Thursday afternoon. The activities of both parties violated Maine Law Title 21-A Elections Chapter 9 Conduct of Elections. Photo provided

According to Maine Title 21-A, Chapter 9, no political activity may occur and no political sign may be placed on a public street within 250 feet of a polling place or polling place by correspondence (municipal office).

Harris’ campaign office is located across the street from the Paris Voter Depot at 33 Main St., as are Trump supporters, which is a 20-yard public street.

Emily Cook, communications director for the Maine Department of State’s Secretary of State, said in an email Friday: “We are informing the (Paris) City Clerk and the parties that political advertising materials – including signs – do not is not permitted on public property within a 250 foot radius. from the municipal office during the vote. Maine law further prohibits preventing voters from accessing absentee ballot drop boxes during absentee voting, period.

City Clerk Elizabeth Knox explained that protesters were allowed to take to the streets as long as their Trump signs were not placed on the ground or affixed to anything. However, she said several Harris signs leaning on the building and taped to the outside of windows violated voter protection laws and should be moved indoors. The signs posted on the windows inside belonged to private property and did not constitute a violation.

Knox responded similarly to an email from a citizen inquiring about activities taking place in front of the Paris Voter Drop Box, which is attached to the city office building.

“…As long as the Democrats don’t put signs outside the store, everything’s fine, and as for the people on the sidewalk, well, that’s free speech, and I know the police got them talked about them in traffic jams. »

Paris City Manager Natalie Andrews said Thursday that the city’s code official determined that pro-Trump protesters’ horns did not exceed the decibel level.

On Thursday afternoon, Harris campaign office staff moved all signage from outside the building inside.

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