Just in case you didn’t know, it is an election year this year. There is not going to be a vote for president this year, but there is going to be a primary election in August and a general election in November to vote for a whole lot of candidates for public office. And a few other things as well.

In fact, as a story on page 3 of this issue of the Faribault County Register explains, you can already vote for the Aug. 11 Primary Election right now, today if you want. Early voting started on Friday, June 26, believe it or not.

And one of those things that are on the ballot are the two questions related to the possible construction of a new school building in Blue Earth.

The Blue Earth Area School Board determined a while ago that they would put that question on the primary election ballot, because they did not want it to get lost in all the listings on the November General Election ballot.

Advertising for statewide candidates and issues has already been happening here in Minnesota, most of it on TV. Some of it is already fairly nasty, and it will probably stay that way all the way to the election in November, unfortunately.

Here at the Register we are more interested in local candidates. The filing period for those interested in running for county offices is already over, but the filing time for open seats on local governments, such as city councils and school boards, is coming up. It starts on July 14 and ends on July 28. In next week’s Register we will have a full story on what incumbent seats on most of the city councils and school boards in the county are open. Then we will give you updates on who has filed for some of those positions.

For instance, in Blue Earth, it is the terms of Ann Hanna, Jacque Drew and Dan Ristau that are up. But we will list most of the positions in the county next week.

Once again, we encourage those who have an interest in serving on a local council or board to consider filing. And not just if you are upset about one thing, because, if elected, you will need to represent everyone.

I know that there is an election coming up because I have already been asked about our letters to the editor policy when it comes to political letters.

Briefly, we do accept letters to the editor, but we reserve the right to run them or not. We also reserve the right to edit them, for language and other things. We expect all letters to be civil and responsible, and we do limit the number of words, if that becomes necessary.

We also charge for letters that appear to be candidate endorsement letters that are actually just a way to get free political advertising.

And yes, we do expect all letters to be signed by the writer, with their city of residence.

Here is our full letters to the editor policy, first published many years ago.

The Faribault County Register has a new election letters to the editor policy.

The Register will accept all election-related letters as paid election letters, a policy now used by many community newspapers.

Any election-related letters to the editor, in support of or opposing a candidate or political party, including letters from candidates, will be noted as paid election letters.

Paid election letters will be charged $30 for 300 words or less. Letters of more than 300 words will be treated as display advertising and be subject to regular per column inch advertising rates.

Letters and payment must be received by noon on Wednesdays of the week before the publication date. If a letter is paid for by someone other than the writer, that funding source must be included, in accordance with election laws.

All letters must include the name, address and phone number of the letter writer for verification purposes, although only the name and city of residence will be published.

As with all letters to the editor, letters cannot be libelous or defamatory.

Statements of fact in letters must also include a verifiable source for attribution.

The editor and publisher reserve the right for final say on what will be published.

Election letters will not be published in the final week prior to the election since there would be no opportunity for an opposing response.

Letters can be sent by email to the editor at chunt@faribaultcountyregister.com, mailed in or dropped off at the Register office. Questions about the paid election policy can be directed to the editor or to the general manager.