Hynes v. Mayor of Oradell

In Hynes v. Mayor of Oradell (1976) 425 U.S. 610, the United States Supreme Court held that a New Jersey municipal canvassing and solicitation ordinance was unconstitutionally vague. The ordinance required that advance written notice be given to the local police department by any person desiring to canvass, solicit or call from house to house for a recognized charitable cause, or for a federal, state, county or municipal political campaign or cause. The Hynes appellants were a political candidate and three voters who claimed that the ordinance would unconstitutionally restrict their political canvassing and campaigning. The Supreme Court found the ordinance vague in that its coverage was unclear and it failed to sufficiently specify what those within its reach must do in order to comply.