Yard sign vandalism and destruction has emerged from the back-and-forth between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for the state’s 19 electoral votes.

In Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, some residents learned quickly that yard signs are a reportedly risky way of expressing your political opinions. On both sides of the aisle, supporters of Trump and Harris reported significant upticks in vandalism and destruction of their personal property – their yard signs. Surveillance footage has captured numerous occasions of vandals entering private property and stealing signs that are perhaps contrary to their own leanings. 

This is just the latest escalation in an unusually tense political atmosphere, and most report that the trend showing a lack of civility with those on the opposite side of the political spectrum is only increasing in 2024. The Pew Research Center conducted a study in 2020, before the last presidential election, that showed about 80% of Americans do not have friends who differ from them significantly politically. The yard signs are not the only sign of growing political discontent. Poll workers and officials have come under increasing threat of harassment recently, and even some engaging in behavior that could exacerbate the issue. For example, a Montgomery County GOP official was caught encouraging Republican voters to vote for Kamala Harris as a protest of Donald Trump. 

Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative, aimed at encouraging open dialogue and civil discussions, released a poll showing almost half of elected officials fear harassment or worse for voicing their views. 

Local committee offices have seen an uptick in vandalism aimed at their signage as well. Two PA officials who both volunteer for the Democrats in Montgomery County had their Kamala Harris and Tim Walz flags ripped off trees in their backyards, while Montgomery County Republican Committee’s headquarters found one of their Donald Trump and JD Vance signs stolen from their property and later found with the words “Hell No!” written in red ink over the names of the candidates.

Some residents and committee officials have begun placing air tags on their signage, and in some cases, this has helped with retrieval. A local man in Montgomery County said he was able to track the theft of his yard sign to a truck at a local convenience store, where he called deputies to confront the alleged thief, who helped him retrieve his stolen sign.