Our take-to-the-polls Wake County voting guide

To learn about the candidates’ stances on the issues, read their 2011 Candidate Questionnaires.

The odd-numbered years are certainly odd, at least when it comes to the election schedule. Because of the rules regarding partisan and nonpartisan races, which we will not bore you with, some elections are in October and others are in November.

The arcane election laws aside, this is what you need to know:

For the Durham primary and the Raleigh, Cary and Wake County Board of Education general election, early voting begins Thursday, Sept. 22, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 8. Election Day is Tuesday, Oct. 11.

If necessary, runoffs in the Raleigh, Cary and Wake County Board of Education races will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8. Durham holds its general election the same day. Early voting for those races begins on Thursday, Oct. 20.

In the Oct. 19 edition, we will endorse in the Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and Pittsboro general elections, also to be held Nov. 8.

And if you live in other Wake County municipalities, such as Apex, Morrisville or Wake Forest, you also vote on Nov. 8.

Early voting for those races begins on Thursday, Oct. 20.