In the July 15 Democratic and Republican primaries, voters will choose their party’s nominees for a variety of local, state and Congressional races.

A runoff election, if needed in any races would be held Aug. 5. Winners of the July 15 primaries will advance to the November general election, though many candidates will face no opposition in that contest.

Hall County voters can cast their ballots from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Friday at the elections office at 2285 Browns Bridge Road. Voters must bring a valid form of photo ID to vote and must have registered to vote by the June 16 deadline.

Voters must select either a Democratic or Republican ballot, but are free to choose either.

There are only a handful of contested races locally and not that many on the state level, either.

There are four contested local races on the Republican ballot: Chris Masters is challenging incumbent Billy Powell for the Hall County Commission Post 2 seat; Charles Baker, Jennifer Gibbs and Bob Vass are running for clerk of court; Probate Judge Patti Cornett is being challenged by Dan Sammons; and Tax Commissioner Keith Echols is being challenged by J.C. Smith.

Some Republican voters across the region also will be voting on contested races for the following state legislature seats, depending upon where they live: Senate District 50; House District 9 and House District 10.

Republican voters across the state also will get to vote in contested races for the District 4 and District 1 seats on the Public Service Commission

On the Democratic ballot, the only contested local race is for Post 4 on the Hall County Commission between Ashley Bell and incumbent Commissioner Deborah Mack. Democratic voters across the state also will get to choose between five candidates for U.S. Senate and two candidates for the District 4 seat on the Public Service Commission.

In the remainder of the seats up for election this year, the candidates either face no opposition until November or face no opposition at all.