AUBURN – Call them signs of the season.

Candidates for local and state office began posting political signs on Auburn’s public areas this week.

“They don’t need any specific permission to do it,” said City Clerk Mary Lou Magno. “As long as they don’t impede the flow of traffic or cause a hazard in the right of way, they’re fine.”

In Auburn, candidates can post signs a month in advance of the election. They have seven days after the election to remove them, Magno said.

Besides state issues, Auburn voters will elect a mayor, city councilors and school committee members to serve for the next year.

In Lewiston, Friday was the first day candidates for state office and proponents of ballot issues could put up signs on public ways, according to City Clerk Kathy Montejo.

Lewiston does not have any municipal issues on the ballot this year, “But we expect to see plenty of signs for county and state races,” she said.

Absentee ballots for both cities have been available since last week. Voters need to provide their names, addresses and signatures to get the ballots. Magno said her staff will mail them to voters who call her office at 333-6600. The ballots must be returned to the clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Nov. 7.