Whenever you’re reading this, assuming it’s this week, time is running out. The Aug. 6 primary is just around the corner and Tuesday, July 30, is the last day to apply for an advance voting mail ballot at the courthouse. Thursday, Aug. 1, is the last day the Great Bend Tribune will run Public Forum letters to the editor concerning the upcoming election.

We do this to be fair to everyone. This page is for public comments but it’s not an entirely free-speech zone. The household that flies a flag in the front yard that says “F*** Biden” has free speech. People could complain about that flag and perhaps boycott the business of the people who flew it, but they had no control over it. This Opinion Page is a little different. For example, we have not printed the complete message that appeared on that flag.

We think our readers understand this. So far, the letters that appeared on this page have been civil. We haven’t omitted anyone’s letters because we disagree with them. Who you support in the election is your business, and you are free to make your case here, assuming you are a real person, with a reason to be writing a letter to the Great Bend Tribune.

There comes a time when everyone should get their last word in. For the Public Forum, our policy is to stop letters shortly before election day. We leave the Saturday paper as a buffer — if some big gotcha appears in Thursday’s paper, there is time for a response if merited. 

So, if you’ve been thinking of writing a letter in support of a particular issue or candidate, we need to have it by the end of Tuesday, July 30. By 10 a.m. on Wednesday, it will be too late as we will be assembling the Opinion Page for Thursday’s Tribune.

Here’s an updated version of our boilerplate letter outlining the rules for election-time letters to the editor:

The rules

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 Tuesday election (Aug. 1 this time around) is the last day political letters will be published. Remember, Thursday’s paper is actually put together on Wednesday and the editorial page is one of the first pages to get done, so letters must be submitted before Wednesday.

Letters will be printed on a first-come, first-serve basis as space is available. 

In addition, the regular policies continue to apply. Submissions may not exceed 600 words and must include a name which will be printed. Although only name (affiliation 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.

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 or ban any author for any reason. We do our best to work with submitters. Submissions can be made via email to sthacker@gbtribune.com, via mail to 2012 Forest Ave., Great Bend, KS 67530 or dropped off in person. Don’t foreget 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. 

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 that those submitting them to just play nice.

One more thing, just another reminder to vote in the Aug. 6 primary. If you want to earn the right to complain about how our government works (or doesn’t work), you need to cast your ballot. Have your voice heard.