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Turnout lags behind state Voters drop off ballots by foot and by vehicle Monday at the drop box on West Main Street in Medford. Mail Tribune / Denise Baratta Monday Nov 7, 2016 at 5:22 PM Nov 7, 2016 at 6:19 PM Damian Mann Mail Tribune @reporterdm Jackson County's voter turnout of 47.4 percent lagged slightly behind the state's 50.3 percent of ballots returned as of Monday morning, but long lines at drop boxes in the afternoon indicate that may change by the time voting closes at 8 p.m. According to the Oregon Secretary of State, Jackson County had received 67,542 ballots out of 142,629 registered voters. Of the Democratic voters in the county, 56 percent had returned ballots compared with 55 percent of Republicans. Statewide, Democrats and Republicans had both returned 58 percent of ballots, a much higher rate than other political parties. David Roadman, chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Party, said he expected higher turnout numbers in Jackson County at this point. "I was a little disappointed," he said. Twenty-eight percent of the 37,242 unaffiliated voters in the county had returned ballots as of Monday. Statewide, unaffiliated voters had returned 32.2 percent of ballots. So far, 1.29 million Oregon voters have submitted ballots, according to the Secretary of State. In comparison, in 2008, turnout as of this day was 55 percent, or 1.2 million, and in 2012, it was 50.6 percent, or 1.1 million. By voting day in 2012, Oregon's turnout was 82.8 percent, and in 2008 it was 85.67. Oregon expanded the number of voters by almost 250,000 after the passage of the motor voter law in 2015. Ballots returned statewide peaked on Sunday so far, while Jackson County's peaked on Oct. 30. At this point, ballots should not be mailed in but must be dropped off at ballot boxes throughout the county. A line of cars trailed behind the Jackson County Elections Office drop box for a quarter-mile Monday afternoon. Drop boxes may also be found at libraries in Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point and Rogue River. Roadman said voters turn in a substantial number of ballots in the last couple of days of voting, so he hopes the voter turnout numbers will pick up and be more reflective of the statewide numbers. Roadman said Democratic voters are excited about the Senate District 3 race between Democrat Tonia Moro and Republican Alan DeBoer. "We're turning out some good numbers there," he said. "At this point in time, I'm cautiously optimistic." He also thinks the county commissioner campaign between Democrat Jeff Thomas and Republican Bob Strosser is generating a lot of interest and could be a close race. Ken Fawcett, chairman of the Jackson County Republican Party, said he thinks that once the ballots are counted, Jackson County's numbers will be similar to the statewide rate. "I don't have any reason to think otherwise," he said. The presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton continues to generate the most interest among Republicans, Fawcett said. The Republican office in Medford has passed out 900 Trump signs this campaign season. "Where have they all gone?" Fawcett said. He said he's receiving reports that signs are being vandalized or stolen. Fawcett said he's seen relatively few Clinton signs, as well, even in Ashland where he lives. He said there is some interest in the Senate District 3 race, as well as the Measure 97 campaign that would tax large corporations. "All the other races are kind of quiet," he said. — Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm.