Last-minute push to get out vote
EUGENE, Ore. -- Time is running out to return your ballot to your local elections office or drop box location.
For Democrats and Republicans, it's boiling down to getting out the vote.
Phone banks are busy at the Lane County Republican office, and Sen. Gordon Smith delivered pizza to thank volunteers for their help.
Democrats put together a rally on the University of Oregon campus with high profile appearances by Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Peter DeFazio.
Citizens got in on the act, too. David Curvo kept his message simple with a sign that read "Voted yet?"
At Lane County Elections, the pace is running a little behind the 2004 election.
By early Monday evening, 67 percent of registered voters had returned their ballots. At the same time four years ago, it was 68 percent.
Postmarks do not count, so it is too late to mail in your ballot to meet the 8 p.m. deadline Tuesday. Instead, use one of the many official drop box locations in Lane County. | MAP
CANDIDATES | MEASURES | DROP BOXES | MAIL | VOTERS GUIDES | POLL
One of the busiest ballot drop sites in Eugene is on Pearl Street, right between City Hall and the County Courthouse.
Drive-up drop boxes could be the scene of a traffic jam Tuesday as a lot of people like to wait and observe Election Day like we used to in the old days before mail-in ballots.
In Lane County, 250 election workers are going to work Election Day.
"We start at 7 a.m. and we go until we are done," said elections supervisor Roxann Marshall, "which could be the next day."
"We've got a very contentious and close senate race; we have a city mayor's race; we have a north commissioner race," said Annette Newingham with Lane County Elections. "All of those are being contested."
Newingham predicted the total return rate could run anywhere from 82 to 95 percent of registered voters, depending on what happens these last two days.
