The Hood River County Elections office reported late Thursday afternoon that ballot returns for the Nov. 7 were at 40.42 percent or 4,091 ballots so far.

The county’s turnout is strong compared to statewide returns of 28 percent. Hood River County’s neighbors Wasco came in at 33 percent and Multnomah at 25 percent. Those numbers are from Wednesday and may have changed slightly as the Secretary of State’s Web site is about a day behind the county clerk’s report. Daily tallies can be found on the Web at http://www.sos.state.or.us/
elections.

Hood River County Elections Director Sandra Berry said the healthy turnout is what she expected due to the interest people in the community have in the issues involving the measures.

Measure 49 proposes changes to land-use processes that came from Measure 37 while Measure 50 would tax tobacco sales for health care.

While ballots can still be mailed now, on Nov. 6 ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. to either the drop site at Hood River Elections, 601 State Street or to Cascade Locks City Hall, 140 S.W. WaNaPa St. Both drop sites will be open until 8 p.m.