Voters throughout the Hudson area will head to the polls today to cast ballots in a Hudson School District Board of Education primary that will narrow the field from seven candidates to six for the April 3 general election.

This will be the first official election in which new voter ID laws are fully in place. It is also the first election since recent redistricting took effect.

Here's what you need to know:

Who

On Monday, Hudson Patch published candidate profiles for each of the candidates on today's primary ballot. Voters will be able to choose up to three of the following seven candidates:

• Brian Bell
• Liz Bruch
• John A. Burtis
• Sandy Gehrke
• Tom Holland
• Cathy Leaf
• Barbara Van Loenen

What

No offices will be awarded based on the outcome of this primary election. The top six candidates will be on the ballot in the general election on April 3, 2012.

Where

 Redistricting may have affected which district you're in, but the polling places for each district remain the same as in the past:

• Districts 1 and 5 vote at Hudson City Hall council chamber.
• Districts 2 and 6 vote at the community room on the lower level of the St. Croix County Government Center.
• Districts 3 and 4 vote at the United Methodist Church fellowship hall.

To find out which district you're now in, check the city's alderman district maps:

• District 1 map
• District 2 map
• District 3 map
• District 4 map
• District 5 map
• District 6 map 

North Hudson Village residents vote at North Hudson Village Hall, and Town of Hudson residents vote at Hudson Town Hall.

When

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hudson Patch plans to post results as soon as they are available later tonight.

What to Bring

If you're a registered voter at your current address, all you need to bring is your driver's license or voter ID card. BringIt.Wisconsin.gov has a complete list of acceptable forms of photo ID.

If you're new to town, changed addresses since you last registered to vote, or need to register to vote for any other reason, you'll need to fill out a voter registration application and bring proof of residence. Acceptable types of proof of residence include the following:

• Current Wisconsin driver license with current address listed
• Current utility bill that has been mailed to you
• Paycheck
• Bank statement
• Government check
• Government document

The document used to establish proof of residency must show the current name and address of the voter. Also, the resident must have been residing in the municipality for at least 28 consecutive days immediately preceding the election, with no present intent to move, according to state election law.

What to Expect

You'll be greeted by an election inspector. Registered voters must give their name and address to the election inspector and present their photo ID. The inspector will inspect the ID, verify the voter log and issue the voter a paper ballot. Voters can then take the ballot to a booth where a pen will be waiting. Once the voter is done marking the ballot, he or she will slide it into the ballot box.

Those who plan to register on election day will need to fill out an application for voter registration and show proof of residence to an election inspector before a ballot will be issued.