Day of decision.

Byline: The Register-Guard

As of Monday morning, 23.8 percent of Lane County's registered voters had returned their ballots for today's primary election. There's likely to be a surge of ballots in the final 36 hours before the 8 p.m. deadline. Decisions affecting the future of Oregon, Lane County and its communities will be made today, and every blank ballot left on the kitchen counter represents a lost opportunity to chart the future.

Turnout is especially important in the Bethel and Siuslaw school districts, which are asking voters to approve local-option property tax levies to support school operations. Oregon's double-majority law requires that such levies be approved in elections in which at least 50 percent of registered voters participate.

The Siuslaw School District appears assured of reaching the 50 percent threshold - as of Monday, 49.5 percent of the district's registered voters had returned their ballots. The Bethel School District, with a return rate of only 26.5 percent, needs thousands of people to deliver their ballots in the final hours before the deadline.

In a double majority election, ballots that aren't cast can count for more than ballots that are returned. The Fern Ridge Library District provided a stinging example of the unfairness of the double majority law three years ago, when a levy won voter approval by a ratio of nearly 3 to 1 - yet was rejected because only 45 percent of voters returned their ballots. Bethel voters should not aspire to add an updated example of the double majority law's unfairness.

Lane County's overall rate of return is running ahead of the statewide average of 19 percent - partly because of high participation in the school district elections, and partly because county residents have a lot at stake. Either one of the two contested races for positions on the Lane County Board of Commissioners could change the board's direction. Two-term Commissioner Anna Morrison is facing a determined challenge from William Fleenor in the west Lane district, and Ron Davis has emerged at the leading opponent of board newcomer Faye Stewart in the east Lane district. A defeat of either incumbent would alter the board's political balance.

Lane County also has the state's most hotly contested circuit court race, measured in terms of campaign spending. It's the county's first race for an open position on the court in 14 years, providing a rare chance to choose among four candidates of varied backgrounds. It has been even longer since Lane County had a contested assessor's race, but three candidates have waged spirited campaigns.

Springfield and Eugene both have spirited races for positions on their respective city councils. And at the state level, Republicans and Democrats both have three-way races to choose their parties' nominees for governor, while all voters, including those not registered as members of a party, will choose a Supreme Court justice from among three candidates.

William Simon, secretary of the Treasury under President Reagan, said that "Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote." They're sent to Salem, county courthouses and city halls by the same non-voters. It's too late for ballots to be mailed; to meet the 8 p.m. deadline they must be delivered to a drop box or to the county elections office. The time for waiting is past. Get those ballots in now.