Autumn sunrise over the National Mall, Washington, DC

Out of many, one. US Election Day

It's time to get out and vote! In 1845, Congress designated the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as the day Americans vote for most federal offices. Prior to this, states held elections on a date of their choosing within about a month of early December, which created issues with early and late elections. For convenience and to save money, many elections for state and local offices are also held on Election Day.

At the heart of this process is Washington DC, seat of the US federal government. Pictured here today is the National Mall, a landscaped park in the capital that is affectionately known as America's Front Yard. Within the National Mall lie some of the country's most famous museums and monuments, including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian Institution. It also serves as a symbolic link between two of the branches of government, connecting the Capitol building—home of the legislature—to the White House, headquarters of the executive branch.