Douglas County Ballot Returns Reach 2.89% for November Election

Douglas County has received 2,582 ballots for the 2026 November general election, bringing voter participation to 2.89%, according to the latest update from the Douglas County Clerk’s Office.

Returns are running 1.68 percentage points behind the participation rate at the same point in the 2022 gubernatorial general election.

Along with the updated figures, the Clerk’s Office shared several reminders to help voters complete and return their ballots.

Instructions in the upper-left corner of each ballot explain how to fill in the oval beside a candidate or measure choice, cast a write-in vote, and correct a mistake.

Voters can also leave contests unanswered. Choosing not to vote in a particular race or on a measure will not prevent votes in other contests from counting.

The Clerk’s Office reminded voters that they must personally sign their ballot return envelope. A power of attorney does not allow someone else to sign on a voter’s behalf.

The office also highlighted how ballot processing protects voter privacy. Return envelopes are separated from the ballots before the ballots are inspected and tabulated, keeping individual voting choices confidential.