DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS GUIDE

Arrive at 11 a.m. Saturday to register. The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m.

1. CHECK-IN
You don’t have to show ID at your precinct caucus site. If you’re a registered Democrat, you sign in by giving your name and address. If you’re not a registered Democrat, you can fill out a form to join the party on site and participate in the caucus. Presidential preference cards to fill out later are given to any person who has arrived by 11:30 a.m., including any still in line.

2. CALL TO ORDER
A party-trained temporary chair of the caucus explains the agenda. It includes electing delegates to the county convention, forming presidential preference groups for President Barack Obama in this case and submitting resolutions for the party platform. The caucus as a whole elects a permanent chair and permanent secretary to run the rest of the meeting after a call for nominations.

3. PRESIDENTIAL GROUPS
Starting at noon, presidential preference groups can form. Normally, if there’s competition, different groups would gather to demonstrate support for different candidates as a prelude to awarding delegates based on the level of backing. But in 2012, the only preference groups allowed to form are for Obama or “uncommitted.”

4. WINNER OBAMA
Before breaking into presidential preference groups, the caucus chair can entertain a motion instead to award all delegates to Obama. If the motion passes by voice vote, the chair instructs the caucus-goers to mark their presidential preference cards for Obama. The cards are then collected and put into envelopes for submission to the state party.

5. ELECTING DELEGATES
Each precinct elects delegates to the county Democratic convention. Nevada law allows one delegate for every 50 registered voters. Candidates can nominate themselves and speak for one minute. The top vote-getters — by a show of hands or voice vote — become delegates. Usually, an equal number of alternative delegates also are elected. Those who want to become national delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., which nominates Obama, must be elected as a delegate to the county and state conventions first. The Clark County Democratic convention is scheduled for April 14 and the state convention is scheduled for June 9-10.

6. REPORTING THE RESULTS
After the caucus ratifies the slate of delegates — either by a show of hands or by balloting — the results are reported to the Nevada State Democratic Party. In this case, delegates will be for Obama, although they won’t be formally “bound” to vote for him until the national convention. Nevada Democrats have a total of 44 delegates to the convention, including eight officials: one U.S. senator, one House member and six Democratic national committee members.

7. OTHER BUSINESS
Caucus-goers can sign up to become members of the county central committee, which deals with party business. Resolutions to the party platform also are submitted but not voted upon until the county convention. The caucus is then adjourned if there’s no other business.

8. NATIONAL CONVENTION
Nevada’s 44 delegates and three alternatives join hundreds of delegates from other states in Charlotte, N.C., from Sept. 3 to Sept. 6 to bolster Obama’s re-election effort.