Vote early and often: Texans will use a combination of primary and caucuses on March 4

By Nancy Jane Moore

In this fascinating political year in which Democratic primaries and caucuses continue to count -- even if all the current talk about superdelegates harks back to the backroom deals of yore -- I've just made an interesting discovery: Here in Texas, we've got both a primary and caucuses on March 4.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that after the polls close, people can return to their precincts for caucuses, which will start the process of selecting about 30 percent of the Texas Democrats going to the national convention. (Something similar happens for Republicans.)

And you can both vote in the primary and participate in the caucus!

Here's how the Texas Democrats will choose their delegates, according to the Star-Telegram:

Texas will send 228 delegates to this year's Democratic National Convention in Denver. Of those delegates, 126 will be assigned to vote for candidates based on election results.

An additional 35 will be superdelegates, made up mostly of high-ranking officials, who may back whichever candidate they choose. This year's superdelegates include Fort Worth's Jim Wright, former U.S. House speaker; Fort Worth's Roy Laverne Brooks, vice chair of the Texas Democratic Party; and U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, whose district stretches from Hood and Johnson counties south to Grimes County.

The remaining 67 delegates will be chosen through the caucus system -- with 42 being rank-and-file Democrats and 25 being party leaders and elected officials, according to a Lone Star Project report.

Seems to me that anyone with strong feelings about either Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton needs to make a point of going to their precinct caucus. Those 67 delegates could make an impact.

Since I just moved from Washington, D.C., to Austin, Texas, I'm paying close attention to the voting rules. I have my priorities straight: I haven't got my Texas driver's license yet, but I managed to register to vote in time for the March 4 election.

Of course, the move means that I miss the "Potomac Primary" coming up next Tuesday in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., but I expect the nomination will still be up for grabs on March 4.

And in Texas, I get to legally vote twice!