Maine Republican and Democrat voters soon will have grassroots opportunities to actively participate in the political process that chooses party nominees for this fall’s presidential election.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders are vying for the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, a full slate of presidential candidates is listed on the Maine Republican Party website, including Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush and Dr. Ben Carson.

Caucuses in Maine are Saturday, March 5, for the Republicans and Sunday, March 6, for the Democrats. Registered members of the parties will kick off the political process in towns and cities across the state for nominating a presidential candidate. The presidential caucuses replace the June presidential primary election.

Jeremy Kennedy, Maine Democratic Party executive director, expects at least 30,000 to attend Democratic caucuses in Maine, and said there have been 6,000 requests for absentee ballots so far. In Westbrook, state Rep. Drew Gattine said 35 Democrats turned out for a planning meeting on Super Bowl Sunday. Gattine is expecting several hundred to turn out for the Westbrook caucus and a strong showing across the state.

Joe Turcotte, Maine Republican Party political director, didn’t predict a turnout number for Republican caucuses, but said, “It will be higher than in 2012,” and added, “there is more excitement.”

Forrest Genthner, the Democratic caucus convener in Gorham, said Tuesday the caucus is important because it “exemplifies” the grassroot effort.

“They can come and become part of the democratic process,” Genthner said.

Jake Stoddard, treasurer of the Buxton Republican Town Committee, said the caucus is an opportunity for a voter’s voice to be heard and to meet people.

“It gives us a chance to organize,” he said.

The contested presidential race is generating a lot of excitement with a lot of energy, said Gattine, convener for the Westbrook Democratic caucus.

“I think it will be a great day for Westbrook Democrats,” he said.

Voters attending caucuses are likely to get bombarded by pitches from representatives of presidential candidates.

The large field of Republican presidential candidates has “made for some interesting discussions,” said John Doyle, a former Gorham resident now in Baldwin and who is vice chairman of the Cumberland County Republican Committee. Doyle hopes the Republican caucuses would draw appearances by some of the party’s presidential candidates.

“We’ve offered invitations to all the active candidates,” Doyle said.

He said the Cumberland County Republican Committee is welcoming candidate surrogates to campaign at caucuses.

Genthner said he has contacted both Democratic presidential campaigns and offered opportunities to people representing the two candidates to speak and staff booths at the Gorham caucus.

Those who wish to participate in each of the two party caucuses are required to be enrolled in the party. As an example, a former state senator from Westbrook, Ronald Usher, explained that those wishing to participate in the Democratic caucuses are required to be Democrats.

“They have to be registered,” said Usher, now a Buxton resident who is convener of the Buxton Democratic caucus

Those who are not enrolled in a political party can register in a party at a caucus. Voters wishing to switch parties to participate in a caucus should go to the municipal clerk’s office in their city or town by Friday, Feb. 19, to change party affiliation.

At the various party caucuses, those participating choose their favorite presidential candidate. For the Democratic Party, caucus conveners report results to party headquarters and the winner is the one with the most support statewide, according to the party’s website.

On the Republican side, all ballots will be first sealed at the caucus location and ballots from all caucus sites later will be triple counted. A winner will be announced that night at an event in Lewiston, said Turcotte.

At the local caucuses, delegates are also elected to the state conventions, which is the next step in the process. At state conventions, delegates are elected to attend national conventions.

The Maine Democratic state convention will be held May 6-7 in Portland. The Democratic National Convention will be July 25-28 in Philadelphia, Pa.

The Maine Republican state convention will be held April 22-23 in Bangor and the Republican National Convention is set for July 18-21 in Cleveland, Ohio. Turcotte expects Maine would get 23 delegates to its national convention.

The presidential nominees are selected at the two national conventions.

The Republican and Democratic parties will report results to the Maine Secretary of State.

“We get word from the national conventions who to put on the ballot in November,” said Kristen Muszynski, communications director for the Maine Secretary of State.

Non-party candidates for president in Maine can gather signatures on petitions to qualify for the ballot in this fall’s election, Muszynski said.

Maine’s general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.

The state previously conducted the primary election in Maine to decide party presidential nominees.

“For two years (in 1996 and 2000) Maine did a presidential preference primary,” Muszynski said. “Before and since then it has been a caucus state.”

In the caucuses, local party leaders such as chairman, vice chairman and treasurer are also elected.

While the state once conducted the primary election for presidential candidates, the parties now organize their own caucuses to choose a presidential candidate.

Kennedy said Tuesday, “There are pluses and minuses to each.”

Other federal, state and county candidates for party nominations in Maine will be chosen in this year’s state’s primary election on Tuesday, June 14.

But many of those candidates will attend the local caucuses where they can connect and chat with voters face to face.

“It’s a great time for state candidates,” Usher said.

“It (the caucus) is a great party-building exercise,” Turcotte said.

For Maine Democrats unable to attend a caucus, absentee ballots are available by visiting mainedems.org and click on request an absentee ballot.

Republicans will provide absentee ballots for active duty military personnel and disabled veterans. For more information, visit mainegop.com and click on 2016 presidential caucus.