May 14, 2021 4:10 a.m.

Nearly 14 percent of ballots have been returned in the Douglas County 2021 Special Districts Election as of late Thursday, with the deadline to turn those ballots in approaching.

Douglas County Clerk Daniel Loomis said while only 542 ballots came in on Thursday, the current participation rate is still ahead of the last two Special Districts elections.

Loomis said ballots must be returned by 8:00 p.m. next Tuesday. Before turning ballots in, voters should make sure they have reviewed and completed both sides of the ballot. The ballot return envelope should be signed, where it lists the voters printed name and address.

Loomis said it is too late to mail ballots in. They can be taken to one of 15 official election drop sites: https://douglascounty-oregon.us/179/Official-Drop-Site-Locations.