Updated Oct. 30: Nov. 5 General Election: Early turnout results for Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat and Skamania counties

Brian Beebe, director, Department of Records and Assessment for Hood River County, said at the end of Wednesday, turnout is at 41.49%, or 6,951 ballots returned. "In 2020, we were at 60.99% turnout, or 9,581 ballots returned," he said. "In 2016, we were at 41.87% turnout, or 5,675 ballots returned."

Both encourage voters to turn in ballots before Nov. 5.

"After tomorrow, we should have more than 50% of the ballots returned for this election," Beebe added. "If we end this election with 84% turnout, like the prior two presidential general elections, that means we should receive another 7,122 ballots for this election."

The Washington Secretary of State reported that in Klickitat County as of 5 p.m. Oct. 30, 4,956 of ballots have been returned, or 30.19%; in Skamania County, 3,875 ballots have been returned, or 41.28%.

This is a continuing story and will but updated as information becomes available.

Oct. 24:

THE GORGE — Turnout rates continue to be below those seen during the 2020 election.

In Hood River County, as of Oct. 24 at 4:30 p.m., 3,222 ballots have been returned, for a rate of 19.22%. Brian Beebe, director, Department of Records and Assessment for Hood River County, said that in 2020, the county was at 37.17% turnout, or 5,839 ballots returned, and in 2016, it was at 20.64% turnout, or 2,798 ballots returned.

For Wasco County, Chief Deputy County Clerk Chrissy Zaug reported at 4:16 p.m. Oct. 24 that Wasco County is currently at 16.02% turnout with 3,035 ballots returned. “In the 2020 general election, we were at 30.52% with 5,546 ballots returned,” she said.

The Washington Secretary of State reported that, as of 5 p.m. Oct. 24, 807 ballots have been returned in Klickitat County, for a 4.94% return rate; in Skamania Couty, 1,557 ballots have been returned for a return rate of 16.67%.

This is a continuing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

•••

THE GORGE — As of 5 p.m. Oct. 22, voter turnout is below 2020 rates in Hood River and Wasco counties.

Brian Beebe, director, Department of Records and Assessment for Hood River County, said that 1,573 ballots have been returned for a 9.37% turnout rate.

“In 2016, we were at 11.69% turnout, or 1,585 ballots returned,” he said via press release. "In 2020, we were at 21.08% turnout, or 3,312 ballots returned."

Wasco County is currently at 7.19% turnout with 1,361 ballots returned, said Lisa Gambee, county clerk.

“In the 2020 general election, we were at 19.04%, with 3,460 ballots returned,” she said via press release.

The Washington Secretary of State reported that 316 ballots have been returned in Klickitat County — 314 of which had been accepted — for a 1.93% turnout rate. For Skamania County, 104 ballots have been returned — and 85 accepted — for a rate of 1.11%.

This is a continuing story and will but updated as information becomes available.