Ballot returns hit fevered pitch in Wasco County

Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee

Almost a third of ballots had already been returned to Wasco County this morning, Friday, Oct. 23, according to Wasco County Clerk Lisa Gambee.

Of the 18,403 sent out, 5,963 have been returned or 32.59 percent. Wasco County was at just 19 percent at this time during the election in 2016.

Gambee said she had seen nothing like in her five years of service.

“I was Clerk for the 2016 Presidential Election, and even though that year was hectic this presidential election is definitely different,” she said. “We've had heavier early returns than normal (as you can see by the numbers), and much higher returns through dropbox than mail. Apparently, the concern at the national level has made voters wary at the local level about using USPS to return their ballot.”