The Nov. 4 general election is just around the corner – in fact, advance voting starts this week. This is a good time to review the Great Bend Tribune’s rules for election-time letters to the editor:
Endorsement letters will be accepted from non-candidates. Current candidates running for office may NOT submit letters to the editor. This includes letters regarding the election, gardening or anything else.
The Thursday before the election (Oct. 30 this time around) is the last day letters on the topic will be published. Remember, Thursday’s paper is actually put together on Wednesday, so letters must be submitted no later than Oct. 28.
Letters will be printed on a first-come, first-served basis as space is available.
In addition, the regular policies on the Public Forum page continue to apply. Submissions may not exceed 600 words and must include the letter writer’s name, which will be printed. Although only the name (and title if appropriate) and home town are printed, all letters must contain at least a daytime phone number and a current address including city of residence. Email addresses, although nice to have, are not sufficient.
The Tribune occasionally allows longer letters to the editor on various topics, but always reserves the right to edit for length. However, the 600-word limit will be strictly enforced heading into the election.
Letters must be from a specifically named individual, not a fictional name or alias. Initials are not acceptable unless that is how the community knows and addresses the submitter. The individual can be part of a group but there must always be an individual’s name(s) assigned to a letter. Anonymous letters will not run.
Letters must be in good taste and must be the author’s original work. Letters must (in our opinion) not be legally actionable and letters may not take a particular business to task. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, content, and length. Profanity will be edited out.
Even though our public forum policies are quite generous, it is ultimately our right to reject any letter. We do our best to work with submitters. Submissions can be made via email to news@gbtribune.com, via mail to 2012 Forest Ave., Great Bend, KS 67530 or dropped off in person. Don’t forget to sign you letter and include an address and phone number! If you have concerns about whether or not we received your letter, call 620-792-1211, ext. 227. Sometimes delivery systems fail. If we haven’t acknowledged receiving your letter, call and see if we got it.
We recognize the importance of this forum as a way to reach readers and voters. We want to print as many letters as we can, so we ask those submitting them to just play nice.
One more thing, remember to vote in the Nov. 4 election. There are several choices this year and you can read about local candidates online by going to Vote411.org. Click the “Find What’s on Your Ballot” tab. That will take you to a webpage called”Getting Started.” Enter your address to find your races. Many candidates have shared information on these pages and answered questions that were supplied by the League of Women Voters of Great Bend - Barton County.
The League hosted a candidates forum last Tuesday. They will host another this week at the Friendship House, 419 E. 3rd St., in Hoisington. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. at the forum will start at 6 with candidates for Hoisington mayor and the USD 431 school board. The forum will also be live-streamed by the Great Bend Post.
