Ballot return rates in Wasco and Hood River counties continue to trail the comparable midterm election of four years ago. In Wasco County, just over 32 percent of ballots had been returned as of the end of Thursday, with 5,982 ballots cast. In 2018 nearly 36-and-a-quarter percent of ballots had been returned at the same point of the voting, with 6,183 ballots having been returned. In Hood River County, turnout is over 33.8 percent as of the end of Thursday, or 5,497 ballots received. Four years ago the turnout was above 41 percent at this point of the election after 6,076 ballots had been received. Rules have changed in Oregon since 2018, when ballots had to be returned to county election offices or designated drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Election Night. Now ballots must only be postmarked by Election Day. Drop boxes will continue to close at 8 p.m.