Oregon Elections Director Steve Trout says while Independent Party candidate Patrick Starnes may have announced this week he is leaving the race for Governor and has endorsed Democrat incumbent Kate Brown, but he can’t officially withdraw.  In a YouTube video, Trout says the deadline to withdraw as a candidate was August 31, and that has long past, so all votes cast for Starnes will be counted for him.  Trout points out that voters who have already returned their ballots cannot make a change at this time, but those who have already marked their ballot for Starnes but have not returned it have a couple of options.  One is to call their County election office and ask for a replacement ballot, or clearly mark on your ballot who you want to receive your vote for governor by crossing out Starnes’ name, mark your choice, and circling or putting arrows around your choice to make it clear.  Trout adds votes for Starnes will not be counted for Brown, even though he has endorsed her.