How the Nevada presidential caucuses work

(AP) — Small Nevada — population 3 million — became one of the first four states in the presidential nominating process thanks to an effort a decade ago to add more diversity to the early voting calendar.

Nevada's delegation pitched the state as a reflection of the country's changing population and it sure didn't hurt that Harry Reid, the highest-ranking Democratic senator, lobbied for his home state.

Nevada is a swing state, with a slight Democratic registration advantage but a Republican-dominated state government.

Unlike a primary, which involves quick and solitary voting, caucuses generally involve a more public pronouncement of presidential preference.

Caucus-goers mainly meet in schools, community centers and places of worship in Nevada's 17 counties, and give speeches to try to persuade their undecided neighbors.

Democrats have divided the state into about 1,700 precincts meeting at more than 200 caucus sites.

The results are the first step in determining delegates who are expected to support candidates at the national convention.

Eight Democratic party leaders and elected officials are "superdelegates" and can vote for any candidate they like at the national convention.

Hostilities between the Clinton and Barack Obama camps created tension in Democratic caucuses in 2008, although the competition swelled turnout to 118,000.