The Pelican Rapids Press welcomes letters to the editor as an important forum for community dialogue and civic engagement. We encourage readers to share their perspectives on local issues, respond to our reporting, and contribute to thoughtful public discourse.

During election season, additional guidelines apply to letters and columns that support or oppose candidates for public office.

GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

To be considered for publication, letters must:

• Be received by Mondays at 12:00 p.m. (noon) for consideration in that Thursday’s edition.
• Be 500 words or fewer.
• Include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification (only name and city will be published).
• Be the writer's original work. Exclusivity to the Pelican Rapids Press is prioritized, though previously published letters will be considered on a case by case basis depending on relevance.
• Focus on a single topic or issue relevant to our readers.
• Be free of personal attacks, profanity, and libelous statements.
• Include a valid email address for correspondence.
• We prioritize submissions from local residents, current subscribers, or individuals directly connected to the Pelican Rapids area.

We will not publish:
• Anonymous letters or letters written under pseudonyms.
• Form letters or mass submissions.
• Third-party letters or open letters.

EDITORIAL PROCESS AND PUBLICATION

• The Press reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity, grammar, and style, consistent with AP standards.
• Letters may be declined if they do not meet these guidelines or if they contain unverifiable or demonstrably false claims, including conspiracy content.
• Due to space limitations and editorial judgment, publication is never guaranteed.
• We prioritize letters from readers in our coverage area and subscribers.

HOW TO SUBMIT

• Send letters to: news@pelicanrapidspress.com
• Include "Letter to the Editor" in the subject line.
• Paste your letter into the body of the email.

ELECTION SEASON LETTERS AND COLUMNS

During the 2026 election season, special rules apply to letters and columns that mention candidates for public office.

Submission deadlines:
• The last edition in which new endorsements will be accepted is the October 1, 2026 edition; after that date, no new endorsement letters for candidates will be published.

Candidate endorsements and election-related letters:
• Letters that endorse, support, or oppose declared candidates for public office will be treated as paid political content.
• The fee for such letters is $25 for up to 200 words, plus 10 cents per word over 200 words.
• The Pelican Rapids Press will not accept letters either promoting or decrying active candidates without this fee.
• Fees may be paid in person or over the phone, Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., during our open office hours.

Letters about current sitting office holders are acceptable. If the current office holder is an incumbent running for reelection, letters will be considered case by case, based on topic and tone and how directly the letter functions as campaign material.

Readers are encouraged to submit letters about:
• Policies, proposals, and community issues that arise during the election season.
• Local, state, and national topics that affect Pelican Rapids and the surrounding area.

All election-season letters must follow the same standards as general letters: no personal attacks, no profanity, no libel, no hate speech, and no conspiracy content or demonstrably false information.

CANDIDATES, POLITICAL ADS, AND EQUAL ACCESS

• Political ads and endorsements are encouraged; the party or campaign paying for the ad will be clearly disclosed on the ad, as required by Minnesota election law regarding campaign disclaimers.
• Political candidates are encouraged to submit columns or letters to constituents and will be held to the same fee structure and word limits as letters submitted by readers.
• Equal opportunity: Space permitting, candidates for the same office will be offered comparable opportunities to share information with voters.

Ghostwriting and attribution:
• Content submitted by or on behalf of a candidate or campaign must clearly identify the candidate and/or campaign committee.
• Any content that is paid for by a campaign or political committee will be treated and labeled as advertising, not as editorial opinion, and must include the required disclaimer under Minnesota statute.