With just over one week left to mail ballots in for Oregon’s primary election, the return rate in Mid-Columbia counties is running ahead of the statewide rate. Figures from the Oregon Secretary of State’s office show as of this morning, 8.8 percent of ballots mailed out in Wasco County have been returned, 8.7 percent in Hood River County, and 10.5 percent in Sherman County. The statewide rate is 7.2 percent. Under a new law passed by the Oregon Legislature last year, ballots must only be postmarked by Election Day, in this case May 17, rather than arriving in County election offices by 8 p.m. that night.