WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Voters in a handful of states head to the polls Tuesday; the latest to weigh in on the Democratic presidential primary.

The elections come as the coronavirus is upending public life across the country, including the 2020 campaign.

Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio are scheduled to vote Tuesday. However, the Ohio governor is pushing to close the polls, potentially putting the election there in flux.

With COVID-19 cases on the rise nationwide, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are taking safety precautions, ditching big rallies in favor of online forums.

“We are in an unprecedented moment in American and world history,” said Sanders during a recent online event, dubbed a 'virtual fireside chat.'

“I look forward to answering your questions - assuming we don’t have any more technical difficulties,” said Biden during a digital town hall event. “But first, let me say, I know this is an incredibly anxious time for all our families.”

Heading into the next round of elections, Biden is leading the delegate count and polls suggest he will likely finish strong in the upcoming states.

“The issue isn’t whether or not we know who the nominee is. The question is: will Bernie Sanders stay in the race, will he be potentially disruptive?” said Todd Belt, the director of the political management graduate program at The George Washington University.

Belt says that if Sanders continues his campaign in the weeks ahead, it will give him a platform to keep promoting his progressives ideas and push the party leftward. However, he says, that could also hinder efforts to bring the party together heading into the general election.

“The flip side of Bernie staying around is that you could get a very divided convention just like happened  in 2016. A lot of those Bernie voters just could not vote for Hillary Clinton, they said,'' Belt said. “Obviously, Biden wants the entire Democratic Party behind him in order to be able to defeat President Trump.”

Politically speaking, the coronavirus will likely be top of mind for voters when they head to the polls, potentially influencing their choices.

“During a crisis, people want stability. And that’s really what Joe Biden offers,” Belt said. “Bernie Sanders is talking about major changes to our economic system and to our medical system and that can scare a lot of people, especially seniors.”

From a practical standpoint, the virus could have the effect of dragging out the Democratic primary process, as more states consider postponing their elections. Both Georgia and Louisiana have already done so.