EDITORIAL: Final day to send election-related letters

May 27-Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Today, we remind everyone that our deadline for submitting election-related letters to the editor is - today. As noted in our election-letter rules posted here a couple of months ago, the deadline for getting in an election-related letter before the June 2 primary is midnight tonight - Wednesday, May 27.

We set the deadline a few days ahead of Election Day to ensure all of the letters will get in on time. A recap of the rules, for those of you determined to get one in before tonight's closing bell:

- You get one election-related letter per election season.

- The limit is 250 words. No, we don't make exceptions. And even though the limit on letters is 250 words, you don't need to use every last one. More people will read your letter if it's short. Get to the point.

- Let's keep personal insults out of this. Name-calling and demeaning comments aren't going to win anyone over, but they might keep your letter out of the paper.

- We don't print anonymous letters to the editor. We require first and last names, addresses and phone numbers. We don't print the address and phone number but use it to verify identity. We don't print purported facts that can't be independently verified. When using facts, cite a source. We won't print letters that require substantial research to verify.

- No attachments. Send us text in an email.

- Finally, a general rule: You're allowed one letter to the editor every two weeks.

That's it. Now, we'll make a couple of very important requests:

First, the number one question we still get asked about letters to the editor is this: "Why do you print so many letters from the same people over and over? Why don't you publish more letters from different people?" Well, for that to happen, "different people" need to write more letters. We can't print letters we never receive - and we print every one we get, as long as the writers follow the basic rules outlined above.

Election season seems like a great place to start. Got something to say on the races? Just send your letter to letters@chicoer.com, and if you send it in today, we promise it'll run before Election Day.

Second, and most importantly: It's a good time to remind everyone that it has never been easier to vote. If you're registered, you got a ballot in the mail. Fill it out. Get it postmarked no later than Tuesday - but why wait? The sooner the better.

The fact so few people who are eligible to vote actually do it borders on a national disgrace. Example: In the 2024 presidential election, 73.6% of the voting-age population was registered to vote. Fewer than two-thirds of the eligible voters - 65.3% - actually did.

That means, in an election decided by less than 1.5 percentage points, more than a quarter of the American voting public couldn't even be bothered to register, much less actually participate. (And this was in a "good" year.)

That's not just sad. It's unforgivable. Don't be part of that problem; put your right to vote to use, every single time.

And while you're at it, don't forget to put your First Amendment rights to use too. Send those letters to letters@chicoer.com, and feel free to keep them coming after Election Day.

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