For both Democrats and Republicans, North Dakota's presidential preference caucuses will resemble a primary election, with one key difference. Politicking inside the polling place - which isn't allowed during a regular election - will be encouraged.

Three weeks before the Feb. 5 caucuses, activists are finishing up preparations for the event, which will shape how both of North Dakota's major political parties choose delegates for their national conventions later this year.

Hotels, libraries, schools and restaurants have been booked as caucus locations in each of North Dakota's 47 legislative districts.

In the state's largest cities, several districts are holding their caucuses in the same location. In Fargo, for example, both Republican and Democratic participants will be voting at the Ramada Plaza Suites hotel. Democrats will also have a caucus location inside North Dakota State University's student union.

"People are looking at (the presidential contest) more frequently. I think they're getting more excited about it," said Mike Schatz, the director of the state Republican Party. "They want to be part of that historic process."

For caucus participants in both parties, the process can be as simple as showing up, filling out a form and marking a ballot, although presentations on behalf of Democratic and Republican candidates will be available for those who want to listen.

Caucus-goers will be asked to list their name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, and they will be asked to provide identification. Both parties will use the information for get-out-the-vote efforts this fall.

The Republican caucuses will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. Democrats are starting their caucuses at 2 p.m., and ending them at 8 p.m. Central time.

Neither party is requiring participants to vote at the caucus location of their home district. Someone who lives in Bismarck, for example, may vote at a caucus in Minot, and vice versa.

"It's essentially a party-run primary, so it's very similar to voting in a regular general election," said Jamie Selzler, the state Democratic director. "It's a secret ballot - you vote, you turn it in, you put it into the box."

At the larger caucus locations, volunteers are expected to be present to try to sway votes for their favored candidates.

North Dakota's primary elections are run by county election officials, and the normal trappings of politics - buttons, signs, banners, literature - are barred inside polling places. At the Feb. 5 caucuses, candidate literature and advocacy is encouraged.

North Dakota and Minnesota are among 22 states holding presidential primaries or caucuses on Feb. 5. The early date was set to encourage candidates to campaign personally in the state. Last year, Republican Rudy Giuliani and Democrat Dennis Kucinich made stops in Fargo.

"As far as visits, there haven't been very many," Schatz said. "But there's a lot of time between now and then, and I have a feeling we may have some people showing up. We're just hoping for that."

North Dakota began holding presidential caucuses in 2000, after an early presidential primary in 1996 attracted turnout of less than 15 percent of the voters.

In 2000, the eventual presidential nominees, Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush, both received majorities of more than 70 percent among caucus participants.

During the 2004 caucuses, Bush was an almost unanimous choice among Republicans, while Democrat John Kerry got 51 percent of the vote in a seven-candidate field.

Selzler and Schatz said the caucuses are useful in spotting voters sympathetic to Democratic or Republican candidates, which is helpful in a state that has no voter registration.

"We will probably have thousands of new Democrats identified who we haven't known of before," Selzler said. "At the very minimum, we'll have a universe of people that we can encourage to go out and vote."

(On the Web: Spreadsheet lists of caucus locations: http://www.nd.gov/sos.)