The timeline, above, shows when the elections for the 11th Congressional District will be held and when the winners will take office.

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

Not only will residents vote for a representative to start a new term in 2013, but they will also pick someone to serve the remaining few weeks of Thaddeus McCotter's 2012 term after he decided to leave office early. And they will vote for both on the same day.

On top of that, the state has been re-districted based on the 2010 Census, which means some voters — including those in Bloomfield Hills — will cast their ballots for just one of these elections, while some will vote in both.

Bloomfield Hills City Clerk Amy Burton said it has been a challenge to keep track of all the developments related to the seat, but that she has not heard from residents confused over what they're voting for and when.

"I haven't gotten any calls on it yet, so I don't know if that means people understand what's happening, or if they're just not tuned into it yet," she said. City voters will only cast ballots for McCotter's replacement in the redistricted seat, who takes office in January.

To sort it all out, we've put together this guide of the basic facts for the 11th Congressional District races.

The Backstory

What caused Michigan to have a special primary and a regular primary? Here are some of the basic facts:

• At the end of May, Thaddeus McCotter announced that he mistakenly did not get enough signatures to run for re-election this November. 
• McCotter then attempted to run a write-in campaign, but suspended it just a few days later.
• On July 6, McCotter announced that he would leave office immediately, citing a "nightmarish month and a half."
• Michigan is then required to call on voters to pick a new representative in a special election in addition to the regular election.
• McCotter's seat will be left vacant for four months until the election in November.

The Special Election

Since McCotter did not announce his resignation in time to add the vote to fill the rest of his term to the August primary ballot, a special primary is scheduled for Sept. 5. The primary will narrow down the field of candidates to one Republican and one Democrat. Voters will pick the final winner in the Nov. 6 election.

The special primary is estimated to cost the state $650,000. Here are the basic facts about it:

• Primary date: Sept. 5
• Election date: Nov. 6
• Voting District: Former 11th
• Municipalities 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

In the regular election in November, residents will pick a candidate to fill a full two-year term in office. Here are the basic facts:

• 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.
  

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Be sure to check back with Patch for profiles of the candidates and the latest election information.