May 11, 2021 4:00 a.m.

Over ten percent of the ballots have been returned for the Douglas County 2021 Special Districts Election, as of late Monday.

Douglas County Clerk Daniel Loomis said that is slightly above the participation rate for the same point in the 2019 Special Districts Election.

Loomis said on Monday, pre-certification of the election tally machines was completed. A member of each of the major political parties was invited to monitor that process. A post-certification of the machines will also be completed later.

Voters who have not yet received a ballot, should contact the Clerk’s Office. Loomis said it is no longer safe to assume the U.S. mail will get voted ballots back in before next week’s deadline. Voters are encouraged to use one of the 15 official drop box sites around the county. A list of those sites is linked: http://www.co.douglas.or.us/clerk/drop_site_locations.asp.