Maine Democrats and Republicans have the chance to make their voices heard on March 5-6, when the parties hold presidential caucuses in York County and across the state.

Will it be Bernie or Hillary? Will Trump prevail in Maine, or will Cruz, Rubio, Kasich or Carson take the Pine Tree State?

Will any presidential candidates appear in Maine? As of Friday, no one could say for sure, but those engaged in party politics are expressing excitement about the upcoming caucuses – and they’re looking for big turnouts.

“It’s important to be a part of the process. This is the future of the country,” said Sanford Democrats caucus convener Rachel Sherman. “It is super exciting.”

“We expect the York County caucus to be the biggest in the state,” said the county’s Republican caucus chairman, Michael Coleman. And with all of the county’s GOP gathering in one location – unlike Cumberland County, which has three caucus sites – should any presidential hopefuls choose to come to Maine, “the prize for candidates will be York County,” he said.

Republicans from municipalities countywide will caucus at Biddeford Middle School, 25 Tiger Way, on Saturday.

Democrats will caucus in each of York County’s 29 municipalities on Sunday. Locations for all Democratic caucuses in York County may be found online at mainedems.org/york-caucuses.

The parties will be selecting delegates to their respective state conventions later this year – Republicans on April 22-23 in Bangor and Democrats May 6-7 in Portland.

Democrats will send 30 delegates to the national convention, including five superdelegates, according to party officials. Republicans will send 23 delegates to their national convention.

But first come the local caucuses. And whether the big guns appear or not, there will likely be speeches to hear and nomination papers to sign for candidates seeking county or state offices.

The York County GOP caucus kicks off Saturday afternoon, with doors opening at noon at Biddeford Middle. Folks checking in to caucus are required to present photo identification, said Coleman.

Republicans who are not registered to vote or who are unenrolled and wish to join the Republican Party may do so starting at 1:30 p.m. Municipal caucuses take place at 2:30 p.m., and voting, which will be by secret ballot, is 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Republican absentee ballots are available only to active duty military, their dependents, National Guard members and disabled veterans by emailing vetsvote@mainegop.com. They must be returned by March 5.

Registered Democrats who cannot attend their caucuses may request an absentee ballot online at mainedems.org. Ballots must be returned to the party by Wednesday.

On Sunday, Biddeford Democrats will caucus at Biddeford Middle School, with check-ins and registrations starting promptly at 1 p.m. Meetings begin at 2 p.m., and presidential preference at 2:15 p.m., said caucus convener Priscilla McGuire. She’s hoping for a big crowd, and pointed out that in the last presidential caucus, 300 Biddeford residents took part.

No photo identification is required for Democrat caucuses.

In Sanford, doors open at noon Sunday for checkins and registration at the Sanford High School cafeteria, 52 Sanford High School Blvd. The caucus is set to begin at 1 p.m. Sherman said 400 people turned out for the 2008 presidential caucus in Sanford.

Coleman said he’s excited about the process as it moves along. New this time, he said, is that delegates chosen at the state convention will be bound – on the first ballot – at the national convention.

McGuire said organizing the event is a lot of work, but also has its benefits.

“It’s so much fun,” she said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.