Need to Know: Michigan's 11th District Congressional Race

This year's election for a representative for Michigan's 11th Congressional District is quite confusing.

The newly re-drawn 11th Distirct now includes Birmingham, .

This fall, residents will be voting for someone to represent the district in Washington, with a primary election whittling down the candidates scheduled for Aug. 7.

However, after former , some 11th District residents will vote in a special eleciton to find someone to replace McCotter during the remaining few weeks of his 2012 term. Some cities will vote in both elections; some — including Birmingham — will only vote in one.

Confused yet? To sort it all out, we've put together a need-to-know guide for residents of the new 11th Congressional District ahead of the August and November elections.

History: how we got here

So how did the 11th District reach this point?

• At the end of May, Thaddeus McCotter announced that he mistakenly to run for re-election this November. 
• McCotter then attempted to run a write-in campaign, but just a few days later.
• On July 6, McCotter announced that he would , citing a "nightmarish month and a half."
• Since its representative resigned, the 11th District is required to hold a special election in November, on top of the regular eleciton. Both elections will have its own primary: the regular primary in August, the special primary in September.
• McCotter's seat will be vacant for four months until the special election in November. The winner of the special election will hold the seat until whomever wins the regular election takes over in January 2013.

The special election: Birmingham not to participate

Had McCotter resigned earlier, the special election to find his temporary replacement could have been on the August ballot. Instead, the special election's primary is scheduled for Sept. 5, narrowing the field to one Republican and one Democrat. Voters will pick a winner on Nov. 6.

However, since the winner of the special election will only represent the 11th District until the end of 2012, Birmingham — being new to the district — will not participate. Birmingham will officially come under the purview of the 11th District in 2013, remaining under Gary Peters until then.

The special primary is $650,000.

• Primary date: Sept. 5
• Election date: Nov. 6
• Voting District: Former 11th
• Cities voting: Novi, Northville, Plymouth, Canton, White Lake, Livonia, Garden City, Westland, Wayne, Belleville, Milford, Highland, Commerce and more.
• Republican candidates: Kerry Bentivolio, Nancy Cassis, Steve King, Kenneth Crider and Carolyn Cavanagh
• Democratic candidate: David Curson
• Winner will take office: In early November as soon as the Michigan Secretary of State certifies the results, which should take just a few days.
• Length of term to be served: Two months, until the end of December.

The regular election: New 11th District to vote

In the regular election in November, residents will pick a candidate to represent the 11th District in Washington for a full two-year terms. Birmingham resident will be voting in this election, so here's what you need to know:

• Primary date: Aug. 7
• Election date: Nov. 6
• Voting District: New 11th
• Cities voting: Novi, Northville, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clawson, Farmington, Rochester Hills, Troy, White Lake, Plymouth, Canton, Livonia, Wixom, Milford, Commerce, Waterford, Auburn Hills and more.
• Republican candidates: Kerry Bentivolio. Nancy Cassis and Rev. Drexel Morton are also running as a write-in candidates.
• Democratic candidates: Syed Taj and Bill Roberts
• Winner will take office: In early January.
• Length of term to be served: Two years until the end of 2014.