Elections
Petitioning, Leafleting, Surveying, and Electioneering Policy
(Adopted February 2023; Rev. September 2025)
The Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library (hereinafter the “Library”) allows the circulation of petitions, leafleting, the conducting of surveys, and electioneering on Library property in accordance with the following policy:
Petitioning, Leafleting, and Surveying
The Library generally restricts these activities to outside the Library building or to the publicly reservable meeting room spaces on the second floor of the Library. The Library Director, in their sole discretion, may grant advanced written approval to requests from individuals or organizations seeking to conduct these activities elsewhere within the Library building.
Regardless of location, individuals or organizations engaging in these activities may not harass, intimidate, be disruptive, cause a disturbance, impede Library business, interfere with public access to or use of the Library building, premises, resources, or otherwise violate established and uniformly applicable Library rules, policies, and guidelines.
In general, signs promoting petitions, leafleting efforts, and/or surveys may not be posted within the Library or affixed anywhere on Library property. Exceptions may be requested in writing and may be granted only at the sole discretion of the Library Director.
Petitioners, leafleters, or persons conducting surveys, must in no way affiliate themselves with the Library or represent that the Library approves, supports, endorses, or opposes any such petition, leaflet, or survey or the subject matter thereof, either through written publicity or verbal statements.
The Library and the Friends of the Library are exempt from the above constraints when these activities are conducted to support the Library or are performed as part of a cooperative arrangement with community agencies.
Activity Outside the Library Building
Individuals or organizations gathering petition signatures, leafleting, or conducting surveys outside the Library building must maintain a minimal distance of 20 feet outside entrances and/or exits and may not obstruct vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
Petitioners, leafletters, and persons conducting surveys are required to notify either the Library Director or the Manager In Charge (MIC) prior to gathering signatures, leafleting, or conducting surveys. There may not be more than three (3) petitioners, leafleters, and/or persons conducting surveys at least 20 feet outside any one entrance and/or exit at any time. The Library allows this activity on a first come/first served basis.
Petitioners, leafleters, or persons conducting surveys are not guaranteed the use of an area protected from sun, heat, or inclement weather and may not set up tables, chairs, or other furniture.
Activity Inside the Library
Individuals or organizations gathering petition signatures, leafleting, or conducting surveys in the three publicly available meeting rooms on the second floor of the Library must confine their activity to within the assigned meeting room space only. Individuals or organizations utilizing the meeting rooms for these purposes are strictly prohibited from calling out to passersby from inside the meeting room or from meeting room doorways.
Individuals or organizations engaged in these activities, whether utilizing the meeting room spaces or having been granted written approval in advance by the Library Director to conduct these activities elsewhere within the Library building, are prohibited from roaming or stationing agents anywhere within the Library building, including areas less than 20 feet from entrances and/or exits, in order to seek participation in these activities from staff, volunteers, or Library users.
Petitioners, leafleters, or persons conducting surveys failing to comply with the directives set forth in this policy and/or other Library policies may be asked to leave Library property.
Electioneering
The Library may serve as a polling location during periods of early voting, on Primary Day (May), and on Election Day (November).
Electioneering activity on Library premises is governed by whether or not the Library is currently serving as a polling location and whether the polls are open or closed.
Electioneering is defined as making a verbal statement, displaying a written statement indicating support or opposition to a candidate, political party, or public question appearing on the ballot.1
Suspected electioneering violations may be reported to the appropriate election officials.
The Library reserves the right to restrict or limit the use of meeting rooms when the Library serves as a polling location.
Electioneering When the Library is Not an Active Polling Location
When the polls at the Library are closed, electioneering is permitted under the aforementioned provisions established for petitioning, leafleting, and surveying activities.
Electioneering When the Library is an Active Polling Location
When the polls at the Library are open, individuals or organizations engaged in electioneering must maintain a minimal distance of 20 feet outside entrances and/or exits and may not obstruct vehicle or pedestrian traffic. Electioneering inside the Library building is strictly prohibited while the polls are open to ensure compliance with state election laws.
Individuals or organizations engaged in electioneering must in no way affiliate themselves with the Library, either through written publicity or verbal statements.
Persons engaged in electioneering are not guaranteed the use of an area protected from sun, heat, or inclement weather and may not set up tables, chairs, or other furniture.
The Library reserves the right to designate locations on Library property where electioneering signs may be posted. These areas are designated on a map available on the Library’s website (www.plainfieldlibrary.net/elections) and at the Information Desk.
Electioneering signs may not be posted inside the Library building, within 20 feet of entrances and/or exits or affixed anywhere on Library property except where specifically designated.
Signs may be posted in the designated areas for signage the day before the start of the election cycle and must be removed by 8:00am the day following the conclusion of the election. Any improperly posted signage or any signage not removed by 8:00am the day following the conclusion of the election may be considered abandoned property and disposed of accordingly.
Individuals or organizations engaged in electioneering failing to comply with the directives set forth in this policy and/or other Library policies may be asked to leave Library property.
1 2024 Indiana Election Day Handbook. www.in.gov/sos/elections/voter-information/files/2024-Election-Day-Handbook-FINAL.pdf
For more information about federal, state and local elections, please visit
the Hendricks County Voter Information page.
Register to vote at IndianaVoters.in.gov
Do you have questions about our policies?
No problem! Let our friendly staff know whatever questions you have about our policies and we’ll be happy to clarify any information.
