The Latest: Sanders makes campaign stop at Chicago diner

CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on Illinois' Republican and Democratic primaries (all times local):

11:30 a.m.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is greeting diners at a downtown Chicago restaurant in one last Illinois appearance as voters head to the polls in the state's primary.

The Democratic presidential hopeful sat down for breakfast with Cook County Board commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who lost a surprisingly strong bid last year to unseat Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

The Sanders campaign has tried to highlight links between Emanuel and Sanders' opponent, Hillary Clinton. Sanders has criticized the former White House chief of staff's record at a time the mayor is under fire for a police shooting scandal.

Sanders took a couple of photos with breakfast-goers during Tuesday morning's stop at Lou Mitchell's, a popular Chicago establishment.

His campaign said he did not have any more events planned in the state.

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10:45 a.m.

Voters on Chicago's heavily Democratic South Side are deciding between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. But they've also got their eyes on Donald Trump, as they consider which candidate has the best shot at defeating the Republican in November should he win the GOP nomination.

Sharon Schaffer said Tuesday she's praying that former Secretary of State Clinton can beat Trump if they end up facing each other. Trump's heated language on immigration and minorities has angered voters like her.

The 65-year-old retiree says she "can't stand him" and jokes that if Trump wins, she'll "go back to Africa," adding, "And I've never been."

But Sheri Scott, a customer service worker and single mother of three, voted for Sanders, saying she thinks the U.S. senator from Vermont has a better shot against Trump because she believes he's more trustworthy than Clinton.

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8:15 a.m.

For the first time, Illinois residents can register to vote and cast ballots on the same day at all polling sites. Election Day registration allows unregistered voters or those who have moved and need to update their information to get registered and vote all at once.

Cook County Clerk David Orr's office is reminding unregistered voters to bring two forms of identification, including one with a current address.

Orr says Election Day registration was a key part of voter reforms that he and others fought for in Illinois.

He adds, "In our highly mobile society, we realize that there are times when people are just not registered when they go to vote."

State lawmakers have also presented a plan that would automatically register people to vote when they get a driver's license or state ID.

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7 a.m.

Polls have opened in Illinois, and voters are lining up to choose their preferred candidates for November's general election.

The state is set to award delegates Tuesday in a presidential primary that grew more competitive in recent days.

The weather could influence turnout, as forecasters said scattered thunderstorms, high winds and hail were possible Tuesday evening across parts of the state.

At a polling site in a church on Chicago's South Side, 48-year-old auto mechanic Albert Griggs chose Democrat Hillary Clinton and was already looking ahead to a possible contest against Republican Donald Trump in November. He likes Clinton because he says she's not trying to "start animosity amongst the people."

In particular, Griggs rejects Trump's talk of building a wall along the Mexican border, adding, "I'm familiar with Donald Trump's tactics and I don't like it."

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1:15 a.m.

It's Illinois voters' turn to speak after a last-minute push from presidential candidates hoping to avoid an upset or make a statement.

The state is set to award delegates Tuesday in a presidential primary that grew more competitive in recent days.

Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders crisscrossed Chicago on Monday looking for votes.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz spent almost all day trying to stop front-runner Donald Trump in Illinois.

The activity was unusual for Illinois, which typically leans heavily Democratic in statewide races and is often largely ignored by presidential candidates, even in primary contests. But aides to Clinton's campaign said they saw the race getting closer. Cruz apparently saw an opening as well.

Tuesday's election also includes primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and other offices.