These tips from the ACLU are great guidance for writing letters to the editor.
- Keep it short and on one subject. Many newspapers have strict limits on the length of letters and have limited space to publish them. Keeping your letter brief will help assure that your important points are not cut out by the newspaper. Use the “Tips on Writing to Your Elected Officials” as a guide.
- Make it legible. Your letter doesn’t have to be fancy, but you should use a computer if your handwriting is difficult to read.
- Send letters to weekly community newspapers too. The smaller the newspaper’s circulation, the easier it is to get your letter printed.
- Be sure to include your contact information. Many newspapers will only print a letter to the editor after calling the author to verify his or her identity and address. Newspapers will not give out that information, and will usually only print your name and city should your letter be published.
Sample Letter No. 1
Dear Editor:
I am disturbed — and you should be too — that the GOP is again proposing to would return Nebraska to the winner-take-all method of allocating Electoral College votes.
Only Nebraska and Maine split their electoral votes — with the winner of the race for president getting the vote in each or our three congressional districts, and the other two going to the statewide winner.
Phone number
Sample Letter No. 2
Dear Editor:
Well, well, well. Just like clockwork, the Nebraska GOP is once again trying to shove a Voter ID measure down our throats.
State Sen. Julie Slama has introduced a proposed constitutional amendment in the Legislature that, if passed by voters, would require photo identification for voting.
This effort didn’t just happen. These Voter ID measures are part of a relentless effort by the GOP nationwide to undermine decades of progress on voting rights.
Voter ID laws deprive many voters of their right to vote, reduce participation, and stand in direct opposition to our country’s trend of including more Americans in the democratic process.
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