What Do You Need to Know for Primary Elections?

At the end of August, there were 560,000 people registered to vote in Montgomery County. Are you one of them? Here's a few helpful items to get you ready for voting on Tuesday. While the September 14 elections are primaries, many races will likely be decided by a primary vote.

For primary voting, only voters registered with a party may vote in the party's primary. If you're not registered yet, or are currently registered unaffliated, you will not be able to vote in races that are between party members. The registration deadline for primaries passed a while ago. However, 11 days after the primary, you will be able to register again for the main election.

Wheaton is represented by two state districts -  the 18th and 19th, the 5th county council district and all of the at-large council seats. There's six Democrats running for the 18th district and six Democrats and two Republicans running for the 19th District. Nine candidates in total are vying for four spots in the at-large Democratic race. Valerie Ervin runs unopposed in the primary for the 5th district council position.

Not sure where your polling place is? Check out the Board of Elections' polling place finder here. While we are asking candidates for both the delegate and at-large questions about their positions, the League of Women Voters has set up an in-depth candidates' guide for the 2010 primaries.

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.