In part to avoid late bombshells, no election letters will appear in last issue before the election
Letters commenting on positions of candidates seeking office, campaigns, political party endorsements or otherwise commenting on the ballot process regarding the Nov. 8 election will be published as space allows now through the Oct. 27 issue.
Letters should contain the name of the writer, place of residence and phone number. Phone numbers will not be published, but are required in case the writer needs to be contacted, even if the letter has been emailed to the editor.
Letters should be concise and to the point. The Sentinel editorial department enforces a 400-word maximum length on all letters.
All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity, or potentially libelous statements. Letters should be written by those whose name appears on the letter.
Endorsement letters are welcome. However, mean-spirited letters disrespectful of candidates are not. Hate mail will not be published.
No more than two election-related letters from the same writer will be published. Letters from the same writer will not be published in consecutive issues.
In the event multiple letters contain the same or similar message, they may not all run. Letters obviously part of a letter-writing campaign, or those obviously abstracted from a blog or other Internet site, will not be published.
No attacks on a candidate’s personal life will be published. Statements that are obviously false, rumors and hearsay will not be published. Writers are reminded it is a misdemeanor in Virginia to knowingly submit false information for publication in a newspaper.
No letters will be published from the candidates unless it is considered necessary by the editor to correct any misrepresentations, and only then on Oct. 27. They also will be subject to the 400-word maximum and other guidelines.
Letters are due by 11 a.m. on Tuesdays.
Paid political advertisements are welcome at any time in the Southside Sentinel; contact Hannah Abbott, ext. 103, or Hannah@SSentinel.com; or Charlie Lassiter, extension 104, or Charlie@SSentinel.com.
