Silver State residents who want to be part of the much hyped Nevada caucus Jan. 19 only have to do one thing: show up and be counted.

There will be no voting machines. Democrats can register at the door, provided they will be 18 years old by Nov. 4, 2008, while Republicans had to be registered with the party by this past Dec. 19.

The caucus involves only the presidential race

Voters will go to the polls to elect all other elected officials on the ballot in the primary in August and the general election in November.

Pahrump Republicans will gather for the caucus at Rosemary Clarke Middle School. Other Nye County locations for GOP voters include the Amargosa Valley Senior Center, the Beatty Senior Center, the Tonopah Station Ramada Inn, the Simpson Community Center in Round Mountain, Duckwater School and the R&H Cafe in Gabbs.

Democrats have a number of caucus locations in Pahrump.

Democrats living in precincts 9, 23, 26 and 32 will hold their caucus at the Rosemary Clarke cafeteria. Residents of precincts 17, 19, 20, 22 and 24 will caucus at the Hafen Elementary School multipurpose room.

Precinct 10, 16, 21 and 27 Democrats will meet at Manse Elementary School. Those living in precincts 11, 25, 28, 29, 30 and 31 will meet at Pahrump Valley High School.

Other Democratic caucus locations include the Beatty Community Center, Amargosa Valley Community Center, Round Mountain Public Library, Tonopah Convention Center, Duckwater Elementary, Gabbs Elementary and the Yomba Tribal Gym.

"The Republican caucus is really a precinct meeting with a presidential caucus straw poll," Nye County Republican Party Caucus Chairman John Timmerman said.

While Republican party officials will discuss the county party platform and meet to elect 185 delegates to the Nye County Convention in Beatty March 8, voters who don't want to participate in the precinct meetings can just show up to endorse a presidential candidate.

Timmerman said Nye County Republican Party Chairwoman Fely Quitevis and other party leaders don't want to disenfranchise any voters.

"Those that wish to participate in the precinct meeting and straw poll election can do that or those that wish to just vote in the presidential candidate straw poll can do that," Timmerman said.

The Republican Party precinct meetings last from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19. Straw poll voting takes place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Democrats are being instructed to show up at their caucus locations starting at 11 a.m. the same day.

Victoria Ruan, a regional field director for the Hillary Clinton campaign, said it's important to be on time as the doors will close about 11:30 a.m. Voters will be greeted at the door by state Democratic party officials who will hand each a card telling them what precinct they are in and who they support for president.

"In order for your support to count for your candidate, you have to show up. You have to physically be counted, there is no absentee voting," Ruan told a group of Democrats gathered for a speech by Clinton supporter retired Maj. Paul Eaton.

"How candidates win the state of Nevada in the caucus is to win the most support in every single precinct across the state," she said.

Ruan predicted Nevada could be "the tie-breaker state" if different candidates win the Iowa caucus Jan. 3 and the New Hampshire primary Jan. 8.

"The state's going to play a very significant role in determining who the nominee is. It's the first time that a western state has been asked to be involved this early in the process," she said.

Candidates who win the Nevada caucus will have some momentum heading into the South Carolina primary Feb. 5, Ruan said. Voters in 30 more states will cast their ballots soon after South Carolina, Ruan said.

The Democratic National Committee decided to hold an early caucus in Nevada because of the importance of the fast-growing western states. Nevada also reflects the makeup of voters nationwide, and western issues like water rights and transportation are seen as important. The Republican Party followed suit and moved up its date.

Different political campaigns have staged mock caucuses to train voters. They separated into groups to vote on things like the best pizza or the best buffet in Pahrump.

"The caucus is easy, it's fun. You don't have to worry about pushing a button or 'hanging chads' or anything like that. You don't have to worry about not being counted. All you have to worry about is showing up and taking place in this democracy," Ruan said.

Timmerman urged Republicans to show up as well.

"This is the first time that the Republican Party has ever done a caucus in Nevada, so it's a learning experience for all of us," he said. "I'm encouraging all the Republicans in Nye County. The more participation we have, the better count people in Nye County will have for the best presidential candidate."

Presidential candidates have been stopping in Pahrump this year for the first time ever. Democratic contenders Sen. Chris Dodd, D.-Conn., Sen. Hillary Clinton, D.-N.Y. and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson have stumped in Pahrump, as well as Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.

Undecided voters showing up at the caucus may be courted by supporters of the different campaigns, Ruan said. The Clinton campaign handed out commitment cards to supporters before the caucus, but those cards are not binding as a vote in the caucus.

Candidates need a minimum level of support called "viability," judged by the number of people participating in a caucus, to elect delegates to the county convention.

Ruan said it marks the first time in years there hasn't been an incumbent president or vice-president running with a strong field of candidates.

Political leaders predict a possibility of heavy campaigning in the Silver State by the presidential candidates next month during the 11 days from the New Hampshire primary to the caucus here.