Monday, July 9, is the deadline to register to vote in Michigan's Aug. 7 primary election.

Democrats and Republicans will be choosing their party's candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress and state House and Senate.

Some communities also have tax issues or other proposals on the August ballot.

Michigan residents can register by mail; at their county, city, or township clerk's office, or by visiting any Secretary of State branch office.

Even if you think you're not registered, you may be on the rolls already since registration typically occurs when people obtain or renew a driver's license.

People can easily check online at www.michigan.gov/vote to see if and where they are registered to vote.

Those who still need to register can download the registration form online from the Michigan Secretary of State website.

Although the paperwork can be downloaded from the Internet, it must be submitted by mail because the form requires a signature.

In addition, a first-time voters who are registering by mail must appear in person to obtain their ballot.

That means, for instance, someone who registers by mail must either pick up his or her absentee ballot in person from a local election clerk or vote on Election Day.

There is an exception for people who hand-deliver the registration form to a clerk's office, who are disabled or are eligible to vote through the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Information on all state and federal races and many of Michigan's county and local races for the August primary election are available on MLive via Vote411.org - the election-information website run by the League of Women Voters.