During the very last weekend before the election, the Reporter does not run critical letters about candidates in the election. This is an effort to make sure all candidates have the chance to respond to or correct any statements that are made before Election Day. This policy applies to all critical letters whether the criticism is new or not. You may still submit letters regarding an election, but the last weekend is reserved only for replies to prior weeks’ letters, endorsements, or general letters.
Since we are receiving many letters at this time, and need time to format, fact-check, and verify them, letter-writers are urged to send their letters as early as possible to have the best chance at publication. While late letters may sometimes be published if there is space and time, letters that are early and letters that need less fact-checking have a better chance to get into the paper more quickly.
For municipal elections May 10, we will only print reply, endorsement, or general letters in the publications dated May 8. For the legislative and freeholder primaries on June 7, that will be the same for publication June 4.
In addition, members of campaign staffs and immediate family members of political candidates must identify themselves as such in the signature line of their letters. All letters must be under 500 words, contain the writer’s address and phone number for verification, and back up controversial facts and statistics. For more instructions, please see our regular letters policy within these pages, or e-mail editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put “Letters policy” in the subject head.