WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Caucusgoers in the U.S. state of Nevada gathered in their respective precincts Saturday casting vote for the Democratic presidential candidates they support, with Vermont senator Bernie Sanders taking the lead as results poured in.
With 10 percent of the precincts having reported their vote counts, Sanders led with 6,048 popular votes, trailed by former Vice President Joe Biden, who garnered 2,707 popular votes as of now.
Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana came third with 2,449 votes, and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren got 1,575.
The Nevada Democratic Party is expected to announce three sets of results late in the day. Voters' first preference of candidates is determined by the results of the initial round of caucusing. If voters' first choice doesn't cross the threshold -- usually 15 percent -- they will have to realign with others to choose a viable contender.
The second round of caucusing indicates the final preference, in which all the candidates chosen are viable. The third set of results to be announced is the county delegates, which resemble the electoral college in the general election.
Nevada is the third state to vote for a Democratic nominee to challenge incumbent President Donald Trump later this year.
Previously, Buttigieg won the Iowa caucuses with a razor-thin edge against Sanders, who prevailed in the New Hampshire primary.
Also on Saturday, the Nevada Republican Party voted to allocate all of their 25 delegate votes to Trump.
