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Capturing History: Snapshots of an Unprecedented Election

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, fraught racial tensions and record-breaking voter turnout, the 2020 election is unlike anything we have ever seen. Here’s what Election Day looked like across the country.

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, fraught racial tensions and record-breaking voter turnout, the 2020 election is unlike anything we have ever seen. Here’s what Election Day looked like across the country.

Atlanta, Ga.

Casey+Brewer%2C+Joe+Frizell+and+Javier+Alonzo+with+Contract+Builders+board+up+Corner+Bakery+at+260+Peachtree+in+downtown+to+protect+the+store+from+possible+civil+unrest+on+Tuesday.
(From left) Casey Brewer, Joe Frizell and Javier Alonzo with Contract Builders board up Corner Bakery at 260 Peachtree in downtown to protect the store from possible civil unrest on Tuesday. (John Spink/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)
John Spink/TNS


(From left) Casey Brewer, Joe Frizell and Javier Alonzo with Contract Builders board up Corner Bakery at 260 Peachtree in downtown Atlanta to protect the store from possible civil unrest on Election Day. (John Spink/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Austin, Texas

A+clerk+directs+traffic+in+the+parking+lot+as+voters+make+their+way+to+the+drive-thru+ballot+drop-off+location+in+Austin%2C+Texas.
A clerk directs traffic in the parking lot as voters make their way to the drive-thru ballot drop-off location in Austin, Texas. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman/TNS)
RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/TNS


A clerk directs traffic in the parking lot as voters make their way to the drive-thru ballot drop-off location in Austin, Texas. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman/TNS)

Catonsville, Md.

Voters+showed+up+at+Hillcrest+Elemtary+School+this+morning+to+vote+to+find+that+the+doors+were+locked+on+Election+Day%2C+November+3%2C+2020.


Voters showed up at Hillcrest Elemtary School this morning to vote to find that the doors were locked on Election Day, November 3, 2020. (Kevin Richardson/Baltimore Sun)

Fairfax, Va. 

A+silhouette+of+a+person+standing+in+front+of+a+Trump+campaign+sign.
David Kidd


A Democratic organizer at this polling place in Fairfax County, Virginia advised her volunteers not to be discouraged by a low turnout this morning. Virginians have been voting in person since September 18, often standing in long lines to cast their ballot. (David Kidd/Governing)

Miami-Dade County, Fla.

People stand on line to vote during the General Election in Miami-Dade County at Surfside Town Hall on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 in Surfside.


People stand on line to vote during the General Election in Miami-Dade County at Surfside Town Hall in Surfside, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)

A+group+of+people+casting+their+vote+during+the+General+Election+in+Miami-Dade+County+at+Miami+Beach+Fire+Department+-+Station+3+on+Tuesday%2C+November+3%2C+2020.
A group of people casting their vote during the General Election in Miami-Dade County at Miami Beach Fire Department - Station 3 on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)
DAVID SANTIAGO/TNS


A group of people casting their vote during the General Election in Miami-Dade County at Miami Beach Fire Department - Station 3. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)

A polling worker disinfecting the voting machines during the General Election in Miami-Dade County at Miami Beach Fire Department - Station 3 on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.


A polling worker disinfecting the voting machines at Miami Beach Fire Department - Station 3. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS)

 St. Louis County, Mo.

The+line+was+about+an+hour+long+for+voters+Tuesday+morning+at+the+Webster+Groves%2C+Mo.%2C+public+library.


The line was about an hour long for voters Tuesday morning at the Webster Groves, Mo., public library. "I think that this election is definitely going to be crazier than any I've seen in my lifetime," Maria Kridel, an unemployed event coordinator. (Alan Greenblatt/Governing)

Yard+signs+outside+the+VFW+hall+in+Maplewood%2C+Mo.%2C+highlight+state+and+national+candidates.


Yard signs outside the VFW hall in Maplewood, Mo., highlight state and national candidates. (Alan Greenblatt/Governing)

Syracuse, N.Y.

Walter+Scammell+gets+a+lot+of+attention+for+the+Trump+signs+on+the+front+of+his+house+on+Allen+Street+in+Westcott.
Walter Scammell gets a lot of attention for the Trump signs on the front of his house on Allen Street in Westcott. His neighbors have mixed feelings.
Lauren Long | llong@syracuse.com/TNS


Walter Scammell gets a lot of attention for the Trump signs on the front of his house on Allen Street in Westcott. His neighbors have mixed feelings. (Lauren Long/TNS)

Anti-Trump+signs+decorate+this+house+on+Allen+Street+in+Westcott%2C+directly+across+the+street+from+a+blatant+pro-Trump+display.
Anti-Trump signs decorate this house on Allen Street in Westcott, directly across the street from a blatant pro-Trump display.
Lauren Long | llong@syracuse.com/TNS




Anti-Trump signs decorate this house, which is directly across the street from Walter Scammell's house. (Lauren Long/TNS)

Zoe is the digital editor for Governing.
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