MICHIGAN, USA — Michigan's primary election is on Aug. 6 and the Democrat and Republican races to fill a retiring U.S. senator's seat will make for a key ballot item, along with local issues.
For more information about races and issues in your local precinct, visit the Michigan Secretary of State's website.
Multiple candidates are seeking their party's nomination to fill the Senate seat that will be left vacant by outgoing Democrat Debbie Stabenow, who announced last year she would not seek re-election after two decades of service.
U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and actor Hill Harper will appear on Democratic ballots. Former U.S. Reps. Justin Amash and Mike Rogers, as well as physician Sherry O'Donnell, will vie for the nomination on Republican ballots — Sandy Pensler will also appear, as he dropped out after the withdrawal deadline.
Important dates, voting information
The online and mail registration deadlines have passed, but you can still register in person up until the day of the election on Aug. 6. Find your local clerk here.
The early voting period is from July 27 to Aug. 4, according to the secretary of state. Find your early voting location here, or contact your local clerk.
If you want to vote via an absentee ballot, you must make an online or mail request by 5 p.m. on Aug. 2 or request one in person at your clerk's office by 4 p.m. on Aug. 5. Find options for how to request an absentee ballot and how to properly submit it here.
"If you’re registering to vote or updating your address by appearing at your clerk’s office on Election Day, you can request an absent voter ballot at the same time you register. If you request your AV ballot the day before the election or on Election Day, you must vote the ballot in the clerk's office," according to the secretary of state.
According to Vote411, a nonpartisan voting information organization, all municipalities can start counting absentee ballots the Monday before Election Day, July 29. Cities and townships with a population of 5,000 or more can begin counting ballots as early as eight days before Election Day.
On Election Day itself, polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The secretary of state is also encouraging Michiganders to join the "Democracy Ambassador" initiative, which provides participants with nonpartisan resources for the upcoming election they can share with their communities and combat election misinformation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.