Ballots must be returned to County election offices or designated drop boxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday evening in the special districts election in Oregon.  The ballot in the region is topped by NORCOR’s request for a permanent tax rate of 26-cents-per-thousand dollars of assessed property value to help fund operations of the regional jail for Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties.  That rate matches what taxpayers paid after passing the bond measure to build the jail, and just came off the tax rolls.  There are numerous positions for special district boards on the ballot, particularly in Hood River and Wasco counties.  The latest reported ballot return rates are right around 21 to 22 percent in both Hood River and Wasco counties.  Ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. in Hood River County at the County Administration Building or Cascade Locks City Hall, and in Wasco County at the County Courthouse or Maupin City Hall.  Election officials remind voters to be sure to follow instructions for signing their ballot, and don’t put their ballots in the mailbox at this point.