Next week, voters in the House of Delegates 74th District will decide whether Lamont Bagby or David M. Lambert will represent them in the General Assembly.

Decision day is Tuesday, July 21.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for registered voters in the district that includes a big chunk of Eastern Henrico County, all of Charles City County and a precinct on Richmond’s North Side.

Registrars are predicting a tiny turnout in this unusual midsummer election.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe called the special election to fill the seat vacated by former Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey, who moved out of the district and into Richmond several months ago to run against Democratic state Sen. Rosalyn R. Dance in the 16th Senate District.

Mr. Bagby is considered the front-runner in next week’s election. His only concern is whether people will remember to vote.

Now serving his second term on the Henrico School Board, Mr. Bagby is the Democratic nominee in this election. He also will carry the party banner into the Nov. 4 general election in which he will be competing for a full two-year term.

Mr. Bagby, who works full time as director of operations for the nonprofit Peter Paul Development Center that serves youths and elderly people in Church Hill, has spent time in recent weeks reminding supporters to turn out at the polls on Tuesday.

“I think I’ll be alright,” he said.

Mr. Lambert, son of the late former state Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III, is counting on name recognition to boost his chances.

Mr. Lambert, who owns a specialty eyeglass and sunglass sales operation, is running as an independent. He also is challenging Mr. Bagby in the general election.

No Republican candidate is running.

The outcome Tuesday will test the relative strength of both candidates and give the winner a big advantage for the next contest.

That’s because the victor will take the seat immediately and serve until the November winner is sworn into office when the General Assembly reconvenes for the next session in mid-January.