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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 12, 2006 Countywide ballot returns 'way under' 4 years ago Staff and wire reports Jackson County Clerk Kathy Beckett can't help but wonder: Where have all the ballots gone? Despite a hard-fought GOP gubernatorial primary that includes Sen. Jason Atkinson of Central Point as one of the major candidates, Beckett said she's worried that ballot returns may not top 25 percent by the time all is said and done. "We are way under where we were four years ago at this time," Beckett said Thursday. "There is such a difference. And today's mail was extremely light again. Now that the drop sites are open, we expected that the mail would be lighter and the drop sites would be heavier, but that's not happening." By Thursday afternoon just 16.96 percent of the ballots sent out in Jackson County had been returned, Elections Deputy Donna Connor said. Typically, final voter turnout for a primary election here is between 35 and 40 percent, she said. Statewide, the picture is only slightly brighter. Counties had received an average of 17 percent of ballots as of Wednesday, according to information provided to the Secretary of State's office. That's a tick up from the 16 percent returned at the same stage in the 2002 primary. Primaries traditionally attract lower turnout levels than general elections — in 2002, only 46 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the primary. This year, that could be fueled by voter dissatisfaction: A recent statewide poll of likely voters done for The Oregonian and KATU-TV in Portland found that 66 percent of Republicans and 48 percent of Democrats feel the state is on the wrong track. Voters will be choosing among incumbent Gov. Ted Kulongoski, former State Treasurer Jim Hill and Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson for the Democrats, and Atkinson, former GOP chairman Kevin Mannix and Portland attorney Ron Saxton for the Republicans Jackson County ballots also include a new Circuit Court judge position, two commissioner seats and the 2nd Congressional District. Phoenix voters also will decide whether to join the Rogue Valley Sewer Services service area. The county maintains ballot drop boxes at libraries around the valley, as well as a 24-hour drop site at the elections office at 1101 W. Main St., Medford. Oregon saw a surge in voter registrations in 2004 because of its status as a swing state in the presidential elections, and this primary is the first test of whether those newly minted voters intend to be long-term participants. "The primaries in general are not that high-profile — they don't get people that excited," said Eric McGhee, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Oregon. "If it turns into a humdinger of a gubernatorial race in the fall, you'll see a boost then." Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy