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Some Democratic voters today have had to wait for hours to cast a ballot in today's presidential nominating caucus.

In Rio Rancho this afternoon, more than 4,000 people waited to cast their votes.

Party officials said thanks, and keep casting ballots.

Brian Colón, chairman of the New Mexico Democratic Party, this afternoon lauded his party's voters and reminded them they can still vote as long as they are in line by the time polls close at 7 p.m.

"We are experiencing tremendous voter turnout throughout the state of New Mexico and are very pleased that New Mexicans are going out to the polls in such large numbers to have their voice heard on who they want to be the Democratic nominee for president," Colón said.

Not everything has gone smoothly.

Polling places such as the Our Lady of Sorrows High School in Bernalillo ran out of ballots at around 4:45 p.m. The same happened at LBJ Middle School in Taylor Ranch.

At Rio Rancho High School, where all 37 of Rio Rancho's polling places were consolidated, more than 4,000 people were waiting to vote around 5 p.m., according to Capt. Jimmy DeFillippo of the Rio Rancho Fire Department.

"They're just trying to maintain order," DeFillippo said. "They're shuffling people from the gymnasium into each room to get voted."

Turnout was so high that Rio Rancho police were called out for traffic control, said Laura Sanchez, executive director of the state Democratic Party. She also said party workers were dispatched there to help process voters.

At about 2:30 p.m., at least 40 people waited inside the Jewish Community Center at 5520 Wyoming Blvd. N.E. just to take a chair and wait.

One poll worker there said, "It's four of five times greater than our wildest dreams."

Tribune Editor Phill Casaus and photographer Craig Fritz contributed to this report.