Deschutes election workers prep for Bend gas tax vote

Tuesday is election day for Bend’s proposed 5-cent gas tax, and the Deschutes County Elections Office has already been busy preparing to count the ballots.

Ballot returns were at about 46 percent late Monday on the single-issue city election. The revenue generated would go to fixing streets around the city.

For county elections officials, it’s about making sure every vote is counted.

The election workers started their duties last week and have been working to process ballots.

“We inspect the ballots before they go to the tabulation system to be scanned,” said Deschutes County Clerk Nancy Blankenship.

Blankenship said expects a large number of residents to drop off their ballots by the deadline.

The deadline to turn in ballots is Tuesday at 8 p.m., The first round of results should be released around 8:15 p.m.