With the general election fast approaching, Leader Publications is reminding readers of our policy regarding election coverage and reader-submitted candidate endorsement letters.

Previews of local races in the Nov. 4 election will begin appearing in the Niles Daily Star, Dowagiac Daily News, Edwardsburg Argus and Cassopolis Vigilant in the coming weeks.

We will also be mailing questionnaires to each local candidate running in this year’s general election by the end of the week. Each candidate will be asked the same questions and the answers will be in each candidate’s own words.

We are asking each candidate to return the completed questionnaire to us by Oct. 14. Questionnaires can be emailed to ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com or mailed to 217 N. 4th St., Niles, MI 49120.

A special election guide containing the candidates’ answers and other vital information will be distributed in all of our newspapers Oct. 23.

We believe the election guide will serve as a quick and easy way for readers to learn about each candidate and make an informed decision when they head to the polls.

As for letters to the editor, any letter supporting or endorsing a candidate must be received by Oct. 21. We will cease running support letters one week prior to the election, or on Oct. 28. We are setting these deadlines in order to allow opposing candidates the time to respond to a letter and to avoid a flood of support letters close to the election.

Also, we will not accept form support letters — they must be in the author’s own words. We reserve the right to reject any letter than does not meet the standard guidelines for submissions.

It is our goal to provide the most fair and balanced election coverage as possible. We believe our policy, while probably not perfect, is the best way to preview an election. If you can think of ways to improve our coverage or election policies, please let us know. We appreciate the input.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.