The Nevada Republican Party announced on Monday that the GOP presidential caucuses for the Silver State are scheduled for Feb. 8.

The contest is expected to be the third in the Republican presidential nomination process after the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15 and the New Hampshire primary, which is expected shortly after Iowa.

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"This event marks a crucial step in shaping the Republican nomination process for President and amplifies Nevada’s significance in the national political landscape," the party said in a press release.

"The First in the West Caucus underscores Nevada’s prominence as a key player in the Presidential nomination process. The Caucus will provide Nevada voters with the unique opportunity to engage with the candidates, discuss important issues, and voice their opinions on the future direction of the Republican Party," the statement continued.

The caucus will begin at 5 p.m. local time on Feb. 8 and will use paper ballots along with voter ID, unlike the state's sanctioned primaries. The state party says it will use the results of the Feb. 8 caucus, rather than the Feb. 6, 2024, state-sanctioned presidential primary, to allocate delegates for the 2024 nominating process.

Nevada's GOP presidential caucus will be held weeks ahead of South Carolina's primary on Feb. 24, 2024, which will be the first nominating contest in the South.

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The Nevada Republican Party says the filing window for candidates for the caucus will be from Sept. 1 through Oct. 15.

Former President Donald Trump currently leads the Republican field, with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in second place, per the RealClearPolitics polling average. The first Republican debate is scheduled for Aug. 23, and most major candidates are expected to participate. Trump has not said whether he will participate in the debate.