May 5, 2023 3:50 a.m. 

Just over 5 percent of voters have cast a ballot in the May Special District Election, as of late Thursday.

Douglas County Clerk Daniel Loomis said 4,474 ballots have been received, which lags just over 1.6 percent behind the participation rate for the same point in the Special District Election in 2021.

Loomis said voters should ensure they read the voter’s statement, which they are attesting to when they sign their ballot return envelope. No one else can sign the ballot return envelope on behalf of a voter, event is there is a power of attorney in place. Loomis said the ballot will not be counted without the voter’s verified signature.

Ballots are due back by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday May 16th. They may be mailed in or taken to one of 15 drop box sites around the county. The list of sites is linked: https://douglascounty-oregon.us/179/Official-Drop-Site-Locations