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Become an educated voter for the August primaries

Two weeks from today, on Aug. 7, Michigan will have primary elections. A week later, Wisconsin will do the same.

Some voters have a tendency to not pay attention to midterm elections, much less the primaries. So here’s why you should learn what you can in the next two weeks about who and what is on the ballot in August for your area.

Both states will choose a governor this fall. In Michigan, where incumbent Rick Snyder is out due to term limits, four Republicans and three Democrats are vying to be their party’s nominee for the job. In Wisconsin, a host of 10 Democrats — yes, 10 — will seek to advance to take on Gov. Scott Walker, who has only Robert Meyer as a primary opponent.

Republicans in Michigan will select among two candidates to face U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat. Five Republicans in Wisconsin want the chance to challenge Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin for U.S. Senate.

Democrats in the Upper Peninsula and the northern counties below the bridge won’t find a candidate for their party on the ballot for the 1st District U.S. Congressional seat — and will have to write one in to have one listed for the Nov. 6 election. Matt Morgan, who failed to get on the ballot after a filing mistake, is pressing a write-in campaign as a Democrat to face first-term U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, a Republican from Watersmeet.

The 38th District state Senate seat is up for grabs, again on term limits that prevent Tom Casperson from remaining in office. Mike Carey and Ed McBroom will learn Aug. 7 which one will gets the Republican nod.

And for some races, November won’t matter. In Wisconsin, the next Florence County sheriff will be picked Aug. 14, as both David Gribble and Dan Miller are running as Republicans. Same in neighboring Marinette County, where Republican Sheriff Jerry Sauve has Fred Popp as a primary opponent, with no Democrat ahead for the general election.

The Daily News is providing information on what’s on the primary ballot on both sides of the border. Monday, it printed a preview by the Associated Press of the Michigan gubernatorial races.

But the names and issues are numerous. Voters have a responsibility to do some research themselves and find out what they can about those who would seek to represent them, be it local, state or federal government.

Luckily, both states do offer an easy site that can tell you who and what is on the ballot for each voting area: michigan.gov/vote or myvote.wi.gov/en-us/

One last, important note: Several Dickinson and Iron county municipalities, school districts and other entities also have funding measures on the Aug. 7 ballot that require voter consent. They are counting on the public to not automatically dismiss these requests but weigh whether what is being gained is worth the cost.

So take the time in the next few weeks to become an educated voter — and then vote.

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