Democratic Primary voters head to polls in Florida, Arizona and Illinois after Ohio cancels election over coronavirus
VOTING is going forward in three states today after the "extraordinary circumstances" of the coronavirus outbreak forced the cancellation of the Ohio primary.
The state health director had declared a health emergency that would keep polls from opening.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had asked a court to delay today's vote, but a judge refused to do so.
The states of Florida, Arizona and Illinois are planning to move forward with their voting today.
There are at least 50 coronavirus cases in Ohio.
"During this time when we face an unprecedented public health crisis, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at an unacceptable health risk of contracting ," the Ohio governor tweeted Monday.
Its the first major postponement of a primary since New York City put off a vote for mayor on Sept. 11, 2001.
The Ohio governor's decision on Monday came as the stock market had its worst day in 30 years.
"These are unusual restrictions," said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, a non-profit organization.
“Normally, we do not support postponing elections, but these are extraordinary circumstances."
Frontrunner Joe Biden seems to be moving closer to securing the nomination over Bernie Sanders, but could face problems if older voters do not show up at the polls amid coronarvirus fears.
Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, has said he is not planning to drop out despite trailing Biden.
He was dealth another blow landed Monday night when Biden was declared the winner of the primary in Washington state, giving him victories in five out of six states that voted on March 10.
With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to worsen, Sanders staged a virtual rally Monday night featuring himself, rocker Neil Young and activist actress Daryl Hannah.
Additionally, he released a video criticizing Biden for suggesting as a senator that he'd be willing to cut Social Security benefits, a point he made several times during Sunday night's debate.
“I don't have to tell anybody that we are living in a very unprecedented and strange moment in the history of our country,” said Sanders.
The Vermont senator added that Americans should “rethink our value system, rethink many of the systems we operate under.”
About half of the delegates in the Democratic primary have already been awarded heading into today's primaries.
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Biden on Monday encouraged voters in a telephone town hall to participate in Tuesday primaries but to do so safely.
“I appreciate everyone bearing with us as we figure out all the logistics of campaigning in a new way here,” Biden said Monday night.
Thousands have been infected around the world and at least 86 people in the US have died from the coronavirus.
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