OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republican and Democratic party officials in Oklahoma both say they're experiencing an infusion of new activists ahead of picking the delegates who will nominate each party's candidates for president.

Democratic supporters of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who won Oklahoma by 10 points over Hillary Clinton, will look to elect one of their supporters into one of two "superdelegate" positions up for grabs Saturday at the Oklahoma Democratic Party's State Convention at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma Republican Party is holding congressional district meetings throughout April ahead of the GOP's State Convention on May 14 at the First Baptist Church of Moore. That's when that party's delegates will be divvied up among U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who won Oklahoma's primary, New York billionaire Donald Trump, and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.

Here's a look at the delegate process in Oklahoma:

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WHAT ARE DELEGATES AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

Delegates are representatives of the state party who will attend each party's national convention this summer. The Republican National Committee's convention will be in Cleveland from July 18-21. Democrats will meet the following week in Philadelphia to select their party's nominee.

The Oklahoma Democratic Party has 42 delegates to the national convention, 38 of whom are allocated to either Clinton or Sanders based on each candidate's performance in the state and in each congressional district.

The Oklahoma Republican Party has 43 delegates to its national convention, 15 of which are elected at the district level.

Under Oklahoma law, all delegates to the national convention shall cast their votes on all ballots for the candidate to whom they are bound, until that person is no longer a candidate.

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WHAT ARE SUPERDELEGATES?

The Democrats also have superdelegates, who can back whichever candidate they wish. Oklahoma has four of those — the chairman and vice-chairman of the party, the national committeeman, and the national committeewoman. Current Democratic Committeewoman Betty McElderry, a Clinton supporter, and Democratic Committeeman Jim Frasier, who has not publicly committed, both are expected to run for their posts again. But Sanders supporters are expected to put forth their own candidates Saturday as part of his campaign's effort to secure votes from more superdelegates, who heavily favor Clinton nationally.

Republicans do not have superdelegates to their convention.

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WHY AM I HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT DELEGATES THIS YEAR?

Party officials on both sides say there seems to be more excitement ahead of this year's conventions because neither nominee has been mathematically decided.

On the Republican side, it appears likely that no candidate will be able to secure 1,237 delegates before the national convention, which makes the job of selecting delegates even more important.

"It has brought more citizens into getting involved, instead of just the politicos," said Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Pam Pollard. "And this is a good thing."

Among Democrats, Sanders' campaign, which included well-attended rallies in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, has energized an enthusiastic group of young people who are getting involved in party politics for the first time. McElderry said she's optimistic that enthusiasm will continue through the general election in November.

"What's interesting is how many young people who are attracted to Bernie because he's so enthusiastic and sincere," McElderry said. "I think they've gotten really interested in the process. I hope they'll stick with us, and I think they will."