October 31, 2020 8:00 a.m.

Over 64 percent of registered voters in Douglas County have cast a ballot in the November General Election.

County Clerk Daniel Loomis told News Radio 1240 KQEN that 54,065 ballots have been received as of Friday night. That is nearly 17 percent ahead of the participation rate for the same time in the 2016 election and over 16 percent ahead of the participation rate for the same time in the 2012 election.

Loomis said of the ballots received, nearly 36 percent have arrived via the U.S. Postal Service. About 23 percent have come directly to the courthouse and the rest have come from the other drop sites.

Loomis said the clerk’s staff, election boards, pickup team, signature verification team, ballot receiving crew and many others supporting the election process are working diligently to keep up with the high participation rate.

Ballots are due back by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday night. Post marks do not count. Ballots can be taken to any of the drop sites located around the county. A list of those sites is linked with this story at www.541radio.com: https://www.co.douglas.or.us/clerk/drop_site_locations.asp