Election Signs Australia: Corflute Campaign Signage Guide

Running for council, state parliament, or a federal seat? Corflute campaign signs remain the most cost-effective, weather-resistant way to put your name in front of voters. This guide covers everything campaign teams and candidates need to know: substrate choice, sizing, single vs. double-sided printing, mounting options, quantity planning, and the authorisation requirements every piece of signage must carry.

Why Corflute Is the Australian Election Signage Standard

Corflute (corrugated polypropylene) has been the default election signage substrate in Australia for decades. The material earns its place for practical reasons that matter to campaigns running on tight budgets and tighter timelines.

It is lightweight, so volunteers can carry, erect, and remove dozens of signs without equipment. It is fully waterproof, meaning a week of winter rain before a by-election does not damage printing or warp the board. The fluted core provides enough rigidity for outdoor freestanding use while remaining flexible enough to mount flat against a chain-link fence. And it is cost-effective at volume, which matters when a competitive state seat might require hundreds of roadside signs across dozens of polling locations.

UV-direct digital printing on corflute delivers full-colour output at high resolution. Campaigns can reproduce photography, party colour palettes, QR codes, and fine text on the same board without the registration issues that older screen-print methods introduced.

Paperlust Print Shop produces corflute election signs in Australia on 5mm TEKflute with UV-direct printing, eyelets punched at each corner, and 48-hour production available after artwork approval.

Corflute Thickness: 3mm vs 5mm for Campaign Use

Corflute for election signage typically comes in 3mm and 5mm profiles. The choice affects rigidity, wind resistance, and cost per unit.

3mm Corflute

The lighter option suits short fence runs and indoor display situations such as committee rooms or scrutineer tables. At lower weight, 3mm boards are easier to transport in bulk. They flex noticeably in strong wind, which can cause fence-mounted signs to flap and shift unless tied tightly at multiple points.

5mm Corflute

The standard for outdoor Australian election campaigns. The extra thickness gives the board enough stiffness to hold shape against crosswinds on open roadsides, to sit flat in an A-frame groove without buckling, and to resist warping across a full campaign period. If your signs will spend weeks on roadside fences or in insertable A-frames at booth entries, 5mm is the better investment.

Standard Election Sign Sizes

Campaign teams planning signage quantities should work from a small set of standard sizes that match common mounting situations.

For most council campaigns, the 600x900mm fence sign and the 594x841mm A1 panel together cover the majority of placement scenarios. State and federal campaigns typically add larger roadside formats to boost visibility on arterial corridors.

Single-Sided vs Double-Sided Printing

Single-sided corflute prints on one face only. It costs less per unit and suits any installation where the reverse side is not visible, including fence lines, hoarding-board backings, and wall-mounted displays.

Double-sided printing puts your artwork on both faces. It is the correct choice for A-frame inserts and stake-mounted lawn signs, where voters approach from both directions. For polling place A-frames in particular, double-sided boards mean your candidate’s name is visible whether voters are walking in or walking out.

When budgeting, note that double-sided adds to unit cost but reduces the quantity needed for A-frame locations because you need one board rather than two back-to-back single-sided panels taped together. Paperlust Print Shop’s plastic election signs are available in both single and double-sided configurations.

Mounting Options for Corflute Election Signs

Zip-Ties to Chain-Link Fences

The most common installation method across Australian campaigns. Eyelets punched at each corner give cable ties a clean anchor point. Use UV-stabilised zip-ties – standard nylon ties can become brittle in direct sunlight over a multi-week campaign.

Insertable A-Frame Sandwich Boards

Corflute insertable A-frames (also called snap frames or sandwich boards) hold an A1 or custom-size panel in a rigid aluminium channel. They are the standard polling place sign at booth entries. Flat-pack for transport, quick to assemble, and stable on footpaths without additional fixings. Check your state/territory electoral commission’s rules on placement relative to polling place entrances before positioning A-frames.

Ground Stakes

H-frame wire stakes push directly into lawn or soft ground and hold a corflute panel between the two vertical rods. Common for suburban lawn signs and road verges where property owners have given permission. Note that local council by-laws often restrict sign placement on public land, road verges, and roundabout centres – check before installing.

Timber or Tube Stakes

Corflute can be attached directly to timber stakes or aluminium tube posts for semi-permanent displays on private property such as campaign offices or event sites. A pre-drilled hole pattern and cable ties or screws through the flutes keep the sign secure.

Quantity Planning for Your Campaign

Under-ordering creates a last-minute production scramble. Over-ordering wastes budget and creates disposal headaches after polling day. The following framework helps campaign managers arrive at a realistic quantity estimate before going to print.

Polling Location Count

Obtain the list of polling places in your electorate from the relevant electoral commission. Each polling place typically uses 2-4 A-frame panels (depending on the number of entry and exit points) plus any approved fence signage along the perimeter.

Roadside and Residential

Count the number of major intersections and arterial roads in the electorate where you intend to mount signs. Add your target residential street tally if running a lawn-sign programme. A rule of thumb for local council campaigns is 1-3 signs per residential street targeted, plus 2-4 per major intersection.

Attrition and Replacement Buffer

Plan for a 10-15% replacement stock. Signs get damaged by weather, are occasionally removed ahead of polling day, or simply fade if the campaign runs over several months. Having replacement boards from the same print run ensures colour consistency.

Timing

Order at least 2-3 weeks before you need signs on the ground. Printing is fast (48-hour production is available once artwork is approved), but final artwork approval, proofing, production, and freight to your location all add time. Election campaign periods create demand spikes across the printing industry – earlier orders avoid backlogs.

Design Tips for High-Impact Election Signs

Legibility at Speed

Voters often read election signs from moving vehicles or on a brief walk past a fence line. The most effective designs limit text to three or four elements: candidate name, party affiliation (if applicable), electorate or level of government, and the authorisation line. Body copy and contact details rarely get read at roadside.

Contrast and Colour

High contrast between background and text is the single biggest driver of legibility. White text on a solid dark or saturated background reads at greater distances than mid-tone combinations. Party colour palettes already do a lot of this work, but test your artwork at reduced size before approving the final file.

Candidate Photo

A head-and-shoulders portrait photograph helps voters connect name to face, particularly at local council level where name recognition is lower. Ensure any photo used is high-resolution (minimum 150 dpi at print size) to avoid visible pixelation on the final board.

Font Sizes

For a standard 600x900mm fence sign, a candidate name in 120-150mm tall letterforms is legible at 20-30 metres. Electorate and party information can drop to 40-60mm. The authorisation line is typically set in 6-8mm text at the base of the sign, which meets standard authorisation display conventions without competing with the primary message.

Authorisation Requirements: An Important Note

All Australian electoral material, including corflute signs, must carry an authorisation statement identifying who authorised the publication. Requirements are set separately at federal level (by the Australian Electoral Commission) and at state/territory level by each jurisdiction’s electoral commission. Local council elections are typically governed by the relevant state electoral legislation.

Requirements cover elements such as the authoriser’s full name, street address, and the specific wording of the authorisation statement. Penalties apply for non-compliant material.

This guide does not state the exact authorisation text required for any specific election. Electoral legislation changes and varies between jurisdictions. Before going to print, confirm the current requirements directly with the relevant commission:

• Federal elections: Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) at aec.gov.au
• State elections: contact your state or territory electoral commission
• Local government elections: check with your state electoral commission, as local government elections are administered at state level in most jurisdictions

Allow space for the authorisation line in your artwork from the start of the design process. Adding it as an afterthought often means resizing or repositioning other design elements, which can delay artwork approval.

Recycling and Removal After Polling Day

Corflute is recyclable polypropylene. Many councils and some electoral commissions require that signs be removed within a set period after polling day – this varies by jurisdiction and property type. Check your local council by-laws and the relevant electoral commission guidelines for removal timelines and any recycling drop-off options in your area.

Campaigns that plan removal rosters in advance avoid the last-minute scramble that leaves signs up beyond the allowed window and risks fines or bond forfeitures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is corflute and why is it used for election signs?

Corflute is corrugated polypropylene sheet – a lightweight, rigid plastic board with a fluted core similar in structure to cardboard but fully waterproof and UV-resistant. It has been the standard election signage material in Australia for decades because it is affordable in bulk, easy to install with cable ties or stakes, durable enough for a full campaign period outdoors, and recyclable after use. UV-direct digital printing produces full-colour, high-resolution output directly on the surface.

What sizes are most commonly used for Australian election corflute signs?

The two most widely used sizes are 594x841mm (A1) and 600x900mm. The A1 panel fits standard insertable A-frame sandwich boards used at polling place entries. The 600x900mm size is the typical fence sign format for perimeter fence lines and roadside locations. Larger formats (1200x900mm and wider) are used for high-visibility arterial roadsides. Custom sizes are also available for specific mounting situations.

Should I order single-sided or double-sided corflute signs?

Single-sided suits fence lines and any installation where only one face is visible. Double-sided is the right choice for insertable A-frames and stake-mounted signs where voters approach from both directions. For polling place A-frames specifically, double-sided means your candidate’s name is visible on the way in and on the way out. Double-sided adds cost per unit but reduces the quantity needed at each A-frame location.

What authorisation text do I need on my election signs?

All Australian electoral material must carry an authorisation statement, but the exact wording, address format, and other requirements vary by election type and jurisdiction. Federal elections are governed by the Commonwealth Electoral Act and the AEC. State and territory elections follow their own legislation. Local government elections follow state electoral commission rules in most jurisdictions. Confirm current requirements with the relevant electoral commission before printing – authorisation requirements can change between election cycles.

How far in advance should I order election signs?

Order at least 2-3 weeks before your installation date. 48-hour production is available once artwork is approved, but you also need to factor in artwork finalisation, proof approval, production, and freight to your location. Election campaign periods create demand spikes that can extend production and delivery times, so ordering early avoids backlogs.

When do election signs need to be removed?

Removal requirements vary by jurisdiction and property type. Most local councils require election signage to be removed within a set number of days after polling day – typically around seven days in many council areas, but this differs between councils and states. Check your local council by-laws and the relevant state electoral commission’s guidance on removal timelines before the campaign begins.