Now it’s up to the voters.

This Saturday, Aug. 9, voters will select the Democratic nominee to run for the 16th Senate District seat vacated by Henry L. Marsh III in the Nov. 4 general election.

Polling places in the “firehouse” primary will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Voters generally must vote in the locality in which they live and must a sign a pledge to support the nominee.

The seat opened last month when Mr. Marsh resigned to take an appointment to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

The winner of the primary will fill out the remaining year of Mr. Marsh’s term and would have to run again next year to gain a full four-year term.

Four candidates will be on the party’s ballot. Two are members of the House of Delegates, one is a former Richmond mayor and the other is a businesswoman making her bid. They are:

• Delegate Rosalyn R. Dance of Petersburg;

• Delegate Delores L. McQuinn of Richmond;

• Former Mayor Rudolph C. “Rudy” McCollum; and

• Gerry J. Rawlinson, a registered nurse and owner of two health care companies in Richmond and Petersburg.

The party’s nomination is likely to be tantamount to victory in the Nov. 4 special election. The 16th District is heavily Democratic, and no Republican has even broached the possibility of running.

Richmond businessman Preston T. Brown plans to run as an independent, but his bid has drawn little attention.

Polling places will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Voters generally must vote in the locality in which they live.