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Voters in Virginia’s House District 17 headed to the polls Tuesday to choose between Democrat Garrett McGuire and Republican Chris Cardiff in a special election prompted by Del. Mark Sickles’ departure.

The district includes parts of Fairfax County. Polls opened at 6 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m., after which election results were expected to begin updating.

Sickles, a Democrat who had served in the House of Delegates since 2004, left the seat after Gov. Abigail Spanberger selected him to become Virginia’s secretary of finance shortly before Christmas.

His appointment was one of several by Spanberger that prompted state lawmakers to resign and triggered special elections across Virginia. Each party received less than a week to select a nominee for the Jan. 20 election.

Democrats chose McGuire through a firehouse primary, a party-run nominating contest rather than an election administered by the state. McGuire previously worked as a legislative assistant in the House of Delegates and volunteered with several nonprofits. He has served as chair of the United Community board and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board.

McGuire’s campaign priorities include lowering costs, funding public education and supporting the federal workforce.

Cardiff, the Republican nominee, previously served as chief operating officer of a data analytics company focused on political campaigns. His campaign has emphasized school choice, housing affordability and government efficiency.

Tuesday’s vote was Fairfax County’s second special election of the month. A week earlier, voters elected Democrat Gretchen Bulova to succeed her husband, former District 11 Del. David Bulova.

Democrat Margaret Franklin also won a special election that day in District 23, which covers portions of Prince William and Stafford counties.