By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

In addition to choosing the Republican or Democrat presidential nominee, Shelby County voters will have an opportunity to decide several local races during the March 1 primary election.

In Alabama, voters must declare which political party’s ballot they would like when voting in a primary election. Because no Democratic candidates qualified for Shelby County’s Circuit Court judge, District Court judge, County Commission and Board of Education races, those positions will be determined in the March 1 Republican primary.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. for the primary election.

On the Republican ballot, Shelby County voters will be able to cast their votes for Republican presidential candidates Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum or Donald Trump.

Voters also will be able to cast their votes for at-large delegates to represent Alabama at the Republican National Convention.

The Republican primary ballot also will include the U.S. Senate, associate justice of the Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and Alabama Board of Education races.

Local races decided on the March 1 Republican ballot will be the Circuit Court judge contest between Lara McCauley Alvis, Patrick Kennedy and J. Timothy “Tim” Smith. The District Court judge race pits Lori Frasure against James R. “Jim” Kramer, and will also be decided during the primary.

Two contested Shelby County Commission seats will be decided during the primary, as Chris Dunn and Robbie Hayes are running for District 9 and Ron Griggs, Gene Rowley and Ward Williams are vying for District 4.

One contested Shelby County Board of Education seat will be decided on March 1, as Jane Hampton and Ramona Piland Rice are running for Place 1.

Democratic ballots will allow voters to choose between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, Martin J. O’Malley and Bernie Sanders. Democratic residents also will be able to cast their votes for delegates to represent Alabama at the Democratic National Convention, and for U.S. Senate candidates Ron Crumpton and Charles Nana.

Both parties’ ballots will include a statewide amendment proposing a retirement program for district attorneys and circuit clerks who are elected or appointed after Nov. 8, 2016, and a local amendment allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages after noon in Shelby County on Sundays.