Actually, a very firm NO to that.
In both theory and practice, the movement of current through a near infinite three dimensional solid is such that once you correctly subtract the interface resistance of the ground electrodes at both ends, the additional resistance of the path through the earth itself, regardless of distance, is so close to zero as to be negligible. Cross country telegraph circuits proved this quite well. Higher resistance over long distances was entirely the result of the metal line impedance. Modeled as a transmission line with resistance, capacitance and inductance but with a perfect return conductor (except for electrode interface resistance.)