Breaking down the caucus by Damian Garde, Daily Lobo

The state has 38 delegates – 26 who are pledged to vote for specific candidates and 12 “super delegates” who vote on their own accord, said Laura E. Sanchez, executive director of the New Mexico Democratic Party.

The pledged delegates are divided up by what percentage of the popular vote a candidate receives. For example, if Sen. Hillary Clinton gets 27 percent of the popular vote, she will earn seven delegates.

However, candidates must garner at least 15 percent of voters in order to get any delegates.

The “super delegates” are high-ranking Democrats from around the state, including Gov. Bill Richardson, Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Tom Udall. They can vote for any candidate they choose.

Voting in the caucus will be done privately, unlike in Iowa and Nevada, where supporters gather in a public place for a head count.

“The New Mexico Caucus is more of a primary,” Sanchez said. “It’s called a firehouse caucus – voters will go in, get a ballot and mark it in a booth.”

On the ballot will be Sens. Clinton and Barack Obama and former Sens. John Edwards and Mike Gravel.

Voters can also choose Richardson, Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Sens. Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd, all of whom dropped out of the race before the ballot was finalized.

In August, delegates from around the country will gather in Denver for the Democratic National Convention to name the party’s presidential nominee.

For information on absentee ballots and polling locations, visit NmDemocrats.org.

New Mexico is hardly the only state going to the polls Feb. 5.

On Super Tuesday, there will be 24 elections – 19 two-party primaries, three Democratic caucuses and two Republican caucuses.