Coos County Elections officials are gearing up today to tabulate the results of the May 18 primary election.

While the presidential candidates appear to be determined, voters here are deciding on several important issues.

In the Bay Area, the issue of consolidating the communities of North Bend and Coos Bay is up for its fifth public vote.

In Bandon, voters are deciding whether to change the form of city government and whether to fund a bond measure for a new nursing home.

Voters also will be determining the candidates for Coos County Commissioner and legislators.

Elections Deputy DeDe Murphy said the county office received "quite a few ballots yesterday."

As of Monday afternoon, Coos County voters had returned 43.8 percent of the ballots or 15,615 registered voters had cast their ballots.

Murphy said ballot boxes were picked up twice in Coos Bay, North Bend and Bandon.

"They were very full - especially the box in Coos Bay, even on the second pickup," she added.

Election workers and volunteers will continue to pick up ballots throughout the day. Voters have until 8 tonight to return their ballots at a drop site.

Ballot boxes can be found at:

- Bandon Public Library, on U.S. Highway 101;

- Coos Bay Public Library, 525 Anderson St.;

- Coos County Courthouse, 250 N. Baxter St.;

- Lakeside City Hall, at 915 North Lake Road;

- Myrtle Point Library, 435 Fifth St.;

- North Bend Public Library, 1800 Sherman Ave.;

- North Bend Police Department, 835 California St.; and

- Powers City Hall, Third and Fir streets.