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The Latest: About 50 Chicago polling places are relocated

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the Democratic presidential primaries (all times local):

11:40 a.m.

A Chicago election spokesman says there was a scramble to relocate about 50 polling places after locations canceled at the last minute and said they would not be available for use on primary day.

The delivery of election equipment had to be shifted to new sites Tuesday, delaying their opening as polling places. It's unclear how many of the new sites are up and running.

No reason was given for the cancellations.

Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen says turnout was slow early in the morning, likely due to people working from home because of the coronavirus.

Allen says he would call 'œconducting an election during a global pandemic when people are afraid to go to a polling place a curse.'ť

In Ohio, health officials postponed the state's scheduled election, citing public health concerns. In Florida, some poll workers didn't show up because of virus fears. Officials in Arizona are moving forward with their vote.

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11 a.m.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign says it will have an online rally featuring Neil Young and Daryl Hannah. Tuesday night's rally will be like one on Monday night.

The Sanders campaign says it is not organizing any get out the vote activities because it believes going to the polls amid the coronavirus pandemic is a personal choice and it wants to respect what people decide either way. The campaign has sent supporters updated federal guidelines on the outbreak but isn't instructing them way on how to follow the guidelines.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is hoping to widen his lead over Sanders in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary.

In Ohio, health officials postponed the state's scheduled election, citing public health concerns. In Florida, some poll workers didn't show up because of virus fears. Officials in Arizona and Illinois are moving forward with their votes.

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9:15 a.m.

Election officials in an Illinois county are encouraging poll workers to use blue painter's tape to mark the floor every 6 feet so voters can keep their distance while waiting in line because of the coronavirus.

Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to share a photo of a roll of blue tape, a piece of string and a tape measure along with a note that read, 'œPeople will get too close.'ť

The note instructs leaders to encourage poll workers to 'œ#MarkTheFloor,'ť adding 'œTHIS PICTURE CAN SAVE LIVES.'ť

President Donald Trump on Monday announced new guidelines urging people to avoid crowds of 10 or more but said elections don't need to be postponed.

In Ohio, health officials postponed the state's scheduled election, citing public health concerns. In Florida, some poll workers didn't show up because of virus fears. Officials in Arizona say they're moving forward with their votes.

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8:40 a.m.

Some Florida polling places have been unable to open as workers didn't show up because of coronavirus fears.

The Palm Beach County elections department says many workers failed to show up in at least five locations Tuesday. The county had 800 volunteers back out as of Monday, with 100 new volunteers offering to take their places.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he believes the election can be run safely.

In Ohio, health officials postponed the state's scheduled election, citing public health concerns. Officials in Arizona and Illinois say they're moving forward with their votes.

Joe Biden is hoping to widen his lead over Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary.

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8:30 a.m.

Floridians are voting across the state as election officials manage losses of poll workers and changes to polling places because of the coronavirus.

There had been concern some polling places might not open on time Tuesday because of worker absences, but no problems have been reported.

In Ohio, health officials postponed the state's scheduled election. Officials in Arizona and Illinois say they're moving forward with their votes.

In Illinois, Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough said shortly after the polls opened that she had heard of no problems at the county's polling sites and expected 'œthings to go well" Tuesday. Yarbrough says she's 'œhopeful" the county will have "a good day voting for the people.'ť

Joe Biden is hoping to widen his lead over Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary.

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8:15 a.m.

Polls are closed in Ohio on a day that was scheduled for a presidential primary.

The polls didn't open on Tuesday morning after state officials just hours earlier took the extraordinary step to postpone the state's primary amid coronavirus fears.

Late Monday, state officials declared a health emergency out of fear of exposing voters and volunteer poll workers to the virus. Many of the voters and workers are elderly, considered among the most vulnerable to the virus.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said in a video posted overnight on Twitter that it became clear Monday that it was 'œnot going to be possible to conduct an election in a way that was going to be safe for Ohioans.'ť LaRose pointed to revised federal guidelines that call on Americans to not gather in groups of more than 10 people and urge older people to stay home.

LaRose says in-person voting has been rescheduled for June 2 and voters can cast their ballots by mail.

Arizona, Florida and Illinois are going ahead with their plans for primary voting.

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7:45 a.m.

The polls are open in most of Florida for the presidential primary. Precincts are open in all parts of Florida except the Panhandle, which is on Central Time, not Eastern.

Election officials in areas across the state Tuesday were managing losses of poll workers and changes to polling places because of the coronavirus. If not enough poll workers show up, it's possible some polling places might not be able to open.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis says he believes the election can be run safely.

A coalition of progressive groups is suing Florida in an attempt to extend mail-in balloting into next week because of the coronavirus. Dream Defenders, New Florida Majority and Organize Florida want a federal judge to order Florida to allow voters to request mail-in ballots through March 24 and postpone the count until March 27.

In Ohio, health officials postponed the state's scheduled election. Officials in Arizona and Illinois say they're moving forward with the vote.

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Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, 'œGround Game.'ť

In this Sunday, March 15, 2020, photo, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., with former Vice President Joe Biden, speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate at CNN Studios in Washington. What might be the final showdown between the two very different Democratic candidates takes place Tuesday, March 17, 2020, during Florida's presidential primary. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The Associated Press
FILE - In this June 27, 2019, file photo, Democratic presidential candidates, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speak at the same time during the Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. What might be the final showdown between the two very different Democratic candidates takes place Tuesday, March 17, 2020, during Florida's presidential primary. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) The Associated Press
The reflection of people standing in line to vote, appear in the doors of the City of Rockford Election Office on Monday, March 16, 2020, in Rockford, Ill. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state officials said Monday that despite restaurants, bars and other businesses being ordered closed, the Illinois Primary will be held as planned. (Scott P. Yates/Rockford Register Star via AP) The Associated Press
A sign alerts voters that polls are closed for a scheduled primary election on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at Schiller Recreation Center in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio called off its presidential primary just hours before polls were set to open there and in three other states, an 11th-hour decision the governor said was necessary to prevent further fueling the coronavirus pandemic that has paralyzed the nation. (Joshua A. Bickel/The Columbus Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press
A voter leaves an early polling site on Monday, March 2, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press
A voter wears an "I voted" sticker outside an early polling site on Monday, March 2, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press
In this Sunday, March 15, 2020, photo, former Vice President Joe Biden, with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate at CNN Studios in Washington. What might be the final showdown between the two very different Democratic candidates takes place Tuesday, March 17, 2020, during Florida's presidential primary. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The Associated Press
A sign is set up at the Lincoln Lodge polling station, 1st ward, Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 in Chicago. Voters across the state are getting the chance to decide competitive primary races for the U.S. House and the Illinois Supreme Court, with concerns about the coronavirus looming large. Election officials have been promoting voting early and casting ballots by mail in an attempt to control crowds and curb the spread. The vast majority of people recover from the new coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, most people recover in about two to six weeks, depending on the severity of the illness. ( James Foster/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) The Associated Press
Guillermo Cruz-Sanchez takes his ballot to the ballot box at the Su Nueva Lavanderia polling place Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Chicago. Voters across the state are getting the chance to decide competitive primary races for the U.S. House and the Illinois Supreme Court, with concerns about the coronavirus looming large. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) The Associated Press
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