OK, political candidates, here’s the deal: You are allowed only one sign per early voting site, no more, no less – and that sign has to be yard-sign sized. However, you can have as many people as you want standing, waving or shouting at early voting sites holding as many signs as they are able.

The Osceola County Commission Monday clarified the policy relating to this issue and the clarification was badly needed, mainly because most candidates, given an inch, will take a mile by putting up as many signs that a space can accommodate and as many signs as he or she can afford no matter how ridiculous it might look. Previously, the county regulation of one sign per candidate per polling place applied to actual election days, and did not cover early voting sites.

We don’t believe that you would find many people who would say that having so many signs at our public libraries makes those buildings look more aesthetically pleasing. Plus, if someone is voting early, we believe his or her mind is already made up as to the candidate of choice and that this decision isn’t likely to be changed by campaign signs.

Don’t get us wrong, we like to see local graphics companies putting people to work filling candidates’ sign orders; it keeps money flowing (from companies with cash to burn on political contributions) into the wider economy. Our opinion is that the place for candidate’s campaign signs is on private property and not on public property or public right of way.

The new policy on the part of county government is not unreasonable and is a compromise between the extremes of allowing no signs and allowing as many as a candidate or his supporters can put up.

By Thursday noon, most local candidates – but not all – apparently had heard about the county’s new sign policy. A check of the Hart Memorial Library in Kissimmee showed Mike Horner, running to retain his seat in the Florida House, had 12 signs up, while Wanda Rentas, running for Kissimmee City Commission, had five. Rentas’ opponent, Jeanne Van Meter, had only one sign, as did County Commission candidates Don Miers, John Quiñones and Armando Ramirez. County Commission candidate Frank Attkisson also had multiple signs still up, as did his opponent Jose Colón. Jose Alvarez, Tea Party candidate running against Horner, also had multiple signs.

Let’s hope that those candidates with multiple signs at early voting sites get the message on the one-sign limit sooner rather than later.