Polls for the special primary election in the race for the 5th District’s seat on the Mower County Board of Commissioners open at 7 Wednesday morning and close at 8 p.m.

The primary will select two candidates to advance to the Feb. 10 special election. The candidates for the 5th District seat are: Mike Ankeny, Ralph Donkers, Ron Felten, Mary Keenan, David Kolb, Marvin Repinski and Derek Hyland.

While two candidates will move on to the special election, voters can only vote for one candidate in the primary.

The election judges will hand count the ballots after the election, and the results will likely be released before 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Write in votes aren’t accepted in the special primary. People who aren’t registered need to bring a valid photo I.D. If a person has an expired driver’s license, that person needs to bring a bill, preferably a utility bill to be paid within 30 days.

Only voters in the 5th District — Precinct 1, Ward 2 and Precinct 2, Ward 1 — will vote in the election. The two polling places are Southgate Elementary School’s gym and the south gym at Austin High School.

Unlike a typical election, voters should enter Austin High School via the west entrance.

People who aren’t sure if they live in the 5th District can call the Mower County Auditor-Treasurer’s office a 437-9535.

Why vote on a Wednesday?

The special primary and special elections are being held on a Wednesday rather than the traditional Tuesday in part to be respectful to schools and scheduled sporting events. Also, Mower County Auditor-Treasurer Doug Groh said he didn’t want the primary Tuesday following a holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was Jan. 18.