Gorge counties' election results will be available online

As of Monday afternoon, here are the turnout totals for Gorge counties:

Wasco: 6,420 ballots, 37.1 percent

(online at co.wasco.or.us)

"As of this morning, we were at 5217 ballots received which is 29.68 percent, compared to 30.55 percent  on the same day in 2016," Wasco Clerk Lisa Gambee said. "We've had a steady stream of ballots coming in today, so I expect it to be higher at the end of the day."

Sherman: 584 ballots have been cast — 41.3 percent (online at co.sherman.or.us)

Hood River: 6,426 ballots turned in, a 42.7 percent turnout (online at co.hood-river.or.us)

Hood River County officials reported that the number of accepted ballot stands now at 6,124 — that 312-vote difference reflects ballots turned in but not yet counted because of their “question” status, usually the result of signatures that are incomplete, illegible, or different than the one on record for that voter.

Steps to help people with question ballots have been updated this year due to coronavirus concerns.

Deputy Clerk Darlene Johnson exlained:

"When a ballot has been returned by the voter, the signature on the return identification ballot is compared to the signature on the voter’s most current registration record. If the county discovers that the signature on the ballot return envelope is different than the signature on their voter registration card, a letter is sent to the voter with a blank voter registration card request that they provide us with an updated signed registration card.

"Often the signature in our system is an older signature from the Department of Motor Vehicles and their signature has changed since they originally registered. They have up until June 2, 2020, to provide the county with an updated signature card. If they fail to do this, the vote won’t count and their voter registration is placed on inactive status."

Those needing to come to the office are offered curbside ballot replacement/reissue service for any voter who has lost/damaged/misplaced their ballot, forgot to sign their ballot or signed the wrong envelope.

“All they need to do is come to call our office at 541-386-1442 and we will meet them out front with a new voter’s registration card and/or ballot replacement request on a clipboard, they can fill out their information, and we will return with their ballot,” Johnson said.

“We will wear a mask and gloves to protect their health and voters don’t even need to get out of their cars,” she said. “We will be open today from 9 a.m. to noon and 1- 4 p.m. and all day on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m."

Voters in northeast Oregon are choosing candidates to advance to the November Primary in Legislative races:

House Dist. 52: Democrat Anna Williams, the incumbent, and Jeff Helfrich, Republican; both are Hood River residents.

House Dist. 57: Democrat Roland Ruhe of Irrigon versus the incumbent, Republican Greg Smith of Heppner

House Dist. 59: Arlene Burns of Mosier and Tyler Gabriel of Culver, both Democrats, challenge incumbent Daniel Bonham, Republican from The Dalles.

Senate Dist. 29: Republican incumbent Bill Hansell faces challenges from Democrats Garison Alger and Mildred O’Callaghan; all are from Pendleton.

Senate Dist. 30: Lynn Findley, Republican of Vale and Carina Miller, Democrat of Warm Springs, running for seat vacated by Cliff Bentz, now a candidate for Here’s what else is on the ballot in Gorge counties in Oregon.

Wasco:

Assessor: Jill Amery

Clerk: Lisa Gambee

Commissioner, Position 2: Steve Kramer and Marcus Swift

DA: Incumbent Eric Nisley, Matthew Ellis

Sherman County:

Sheriff — Brad Lohrey

Justice of the Peace — Ron McDermid, Geremy Shull, and Deanna Christiansen

County Clark — Kristi Brown

Lohrey and McDermid are incumbents.

Hood River County:

Sheriff: Matt English

County Commission Chair: Mike Oates

County Commission Position 2: Paul Henke, Arthur Babitz

County Commission, Position 4: Les Perkins

DA: Carrie Rasmussen and Sean Kallery

Oates, English, and Perkins are incumbents.