Some of the delegates are chosen by the direct vote (at the polls) and some are chosen at the precinct convention -- hence the voting twice.

2/3 of the deligates (there are 228 up for grabs) are chosen by the primary (popular vote).
the other 3rd are chosen by the caucus.

The caucus will start at 7:15 for the democratic party at each polling location OR after the last person has voted (law says that if you are in line at 7, you get to vote so some votes may not be cast til 7:15 or later).

In order for a voter to participate in the caucus they have to have voted in the democratic primary (either on tuesday or during early voting).

after the precinct chair calls the caucus to order, you sign in and state who you're throwing your support behind (Obama or Clinton). thats pretty much it. Its different in the sense that its not a secret vote. Delegates to send to the county convention will also be chosen.

I'm ON the mo-fo!

it is estimated in some places that you will have to wait 2-3 hours after 7 =(. I would just go at 7 to see how long the line is and then come back later...

Speaking of voting twice, I participated in the Democratic caucus in Washington and could participate in Texas if only I was moving there two weeks earlier! But I'm not, alas.

How it worked in WA: You sign in and indicate support for your candidate, then go to your precinct's assigned location and mill around with your neighbors a while. Then one of your neighbors stands up and reads some stuff out loud, and then anyone who wants to gets one minute to speak for their candidate in an attempt to sway votes. The Obama supporters are separated physically from the Clinton supporters (are separated from the one solitary Gravel supporter), everyone is counted, anybody changing their vote can do so, everyone is counted again, and finally delegates are chosen for each candidate.

(Go Hills you go, girl).

I heard that this is not like the other caucuses we hear about. This one you just sign your name on a side, and then can go, you do not have to sit at tables and move tables and such. However this is just hearsay so I am not sure what is exactly true. The person that told me implied it would only be 15 minutes or so.