At least 23 primaries will be held in Connecticut on Aug. 12, including the Democratic primary for 20th state Senate District between party-endorsed candidate state Rep. Betsy Ritter, D-Waterford, and New London Democratic Town Committee Chairman Bill Satti.

“It is important that voters are fully aware of the primaries taking place on August 12th,” said Secretary of the State Denise Merrill in a press release. “We in Connecticut have a number of open seats in our General Assembly on both sides of the aisle, and many candidates lining up to replace outgoing legislators. I encourage registered Democrats and Republicans to find out about the candidates and make their voices heard on primary day by casting ballots.”

Registered Democrats and Republicans will be able to vote in their respective primaries for various state House of Representatives and Senate seats, judges of probate court and registrars of voters, depending on their geographic location. There will be Republican primaries for races that include governor, lieutenant governor and state comptroller. There are no statewide primaries for Democrats this year.

Those not registered with either party can participate in the Aug. 12 primaries by registering to vote in person at town offices by Aug. 11 at noon, completing their online registration by Aug. 7 or mailing in registration cards to their local registrars of voters by Aug. 7.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Primary Day.

Candidates for the gubernatorial primary are party-endorsed Tom Foley of Greenwich and state Sen. John McKinney, R-Fairfield. For lieutenant governor, the candidates are party-endorsed state Rep. Penny Bacchiochi, R-Stafford Springs, Groton Town Councilor Heather Bond Somers and former U.S. comptroller general David Walker. For comptroller, the candidates are party-endorsed Sharon McLaughlin and Angel Cadena.

To learn more about how to register to vote and for polling locations, visit www.sots.ct.gov.

j.somers@theday.com