The rate of ballot return for this year’s general election is running behind that of the 2018 mid-term vote.  Wasco County reports as of the end of Tuesday that 24.06 percent of ballots have been returned, 4,486 in total.  Four years ago the return rate was 28.56 percent with 4,874 having been submitted with one week remaining.  Hood River County reports it had received 25.73 percent of ballots as of end of Tuesday, with 4,179 having been received.  That compares with a 2018 turnout rate at the same time of 31.34 percent, with 4,598 ballots received.  One factor may be a change in Oregon’s mail-in election procedures this year.  In 2018 ballots had to be returned to county election offices or designated drop boxes by 8 p.m. Election Night, whereas now ballots only must be postmarked by Election Day.