We're Voting and Debating This Week

When this week is over, we'll have new councilmembers in both Rochester and Rochester Hills.

We'll have new Rochester Board of Education members.

And our town will have been part of the talk of the national political scene.

Election Day is Tuesday. The Republican presidential debate at Oakland University is Wednesday.

Here's what you need to know right now about both.

The Election

• The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. in both Rochester and Rochester Hills.
• You can vote via absentee ballott until 4 p.m. today (Monday) at the clerks' offices.
• The easiest way to find out where you vote and who's on your ballot is to visit the Michigan Votes site from the Secretery of State office. Plug in your name, birthdate and ZIP code and take a look at what you'll be voting for.
• For candidate profiles and more on the election, read

The GOP Debate

• Eight candidates are expected to attend the debate: Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. 
• The debate is closed to the general public. The audience was chosen by the Michigan Republican Party, and some students were chosen to attend through a lottery.
• You can submit a question for the candidates to debate moderators on the Michigan GOP website. You can also use Twitter to submit a question: Just tweet @migop and include #CNBCdebate.
• For more coverage, read