Ballots have been coming into county election offices throughout the region over the past week at a record pace.  As of Wednesday morning, 56.8% of ballots have been returned in Hood River County, and in Wasco County the return rate is 50.3%.  Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee says when a ballot arrives in her office, it is scanned so they know which voter ballot has been returned, followed by staff doing signature verification.  And she says Wednesday is the first day ballots are opened, processed, and scanned to begin preparing to release after 8 p.m. on election night.  Election results are not certified until 20 days after the vote, as those whose signatures are challenged or forgot to sign the return envelope have 14 days after the election to go to their County election office and correct that situation.