Happy Election Day, to all who celebrate.

• Here's when you can vote: D.C. (7am–8pm), Virginia (6am–7pm) and Maryland (7am–8pm).

🌤️ Today's weather: Fog, then mostly sunny. High around 72, low of 52.

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Today’s newsletter is 1,099 words — a 4-minute read.

D.C. voters will elect their first new mayor in 12 years today while deciding a controversial foie gras ban and seven D.C. Council seats.

The big picture: There may not be many competitive races on D.C.'s November ballot, but the city's first general election using ranked-choice voting adds a twist to the contest for two at-large Council seats.

State of play: Council member Janeese Lewis George is expected to become D.C.'s next mayor, putting in motion the city's first mayoral transition since 2015. She'd take office in January.

• Robert White is expected to succeed Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton as the city's congressional representative.
• D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Attorney General Brian Schwalb are also expected to win reelection.

The intrigue: Voters are picking two at-large council members in a race complicated by the city's new ranked-choice voting system.

• Democrat Oye Owolewa is widely expected to win one seat, while independent Council member Elissa Silverman is favored to win another.
• But Silverman's supporters worry about how the rank-choice voting math will shake out. Silverman has been urging voters to rank her first.
• Republican Darrell Green (not the Washington football legend) and DC Statehood Green nominee Darryl Moch are also running for the seat.

Meanwhile, Initiative 86, which would ban foie gras, is getting attention in the closing stretch.

• Activist group Pro-Animal DC argues that force-feeding ducks and geese to enlarge their livers is cruel.
• While many chefs stayed quiet, José Andrés spoke out against it, as did the owner of Butterworth's, a Capitol Hill restaurant with Trump world ties.
• Foie gras producers are have threatened to sue if it passes.

At the ward level, Aparna Raj is the Democratic nominee in Ward 1 (Columbia Heights, Park View, AdMo, etc.), up against three challengers.

• Council member Matt Frumin is unopposed in Ward 3 (Tenleytown, Cleveland Park, Palisades, etc.).
• Council member Zachary Parker has two challengers in Ward 5 (Brookland, Woodridge, Fort Totten, etc.).
• Council member Charles Allen is running against Republican Jorge Rice in Ward 6 (Capitol Hill, H Street NE, NoMa).

More on the ballot

Federal election monitors are heading to polling places in the D.C. suburbs today, amid concerns about potential voter intimidation.

The big picture: The Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to send about 1,000 election monitors to polls across the country — far more than in previous elections.

• Federal election monitoring is a longstanding practice intended to ensure that voting rights are being maintained.
• But the unusually large deployment is drawing scrutiny amid the Trump administration's repeated claims of widespread voter fraud.

State of play: The DOJ plans to have monitors stationed in the 'burbs in Prince George's County in Maryland and Fairfax County in Virginia.

• In Virginia's Prince William County, local officials said federal monitors won't be allowed inside polling places. The DOJ said it would still send monitors to observe from the outside, reports the Prince William Times.
• The DOJ hasn't released a complete list of monitoring locations.
• Election officials in Maryland said they currently aren't aware of locations besides Prince George's. D.C. and Virginia officials didn't respond to requests for additional locations.

Zoom in: D.C. residents have also raised concerns about National Guard troops near voting locations after guard members were spotted next to a Foggy Bottom ballot box last month.

• The D.C. Board of Elections afterwards asked the National Guard to stay away from voting locations.
• Local groups like Free D.C. and Harriet's Wildest Dreams will have independent monitors at polling sites in case issues arise, reports the Washington Sun.

Meanwhile, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an advisory last month outlining restrictions on federal troops and law enforcement at polling places.

• The National Guard has been instructed not to monitor or secure polling places, according to the advisory.

What they're saying: A DOJ spokesperson told the Atlantic that monitors wouldn't interfere with voting and would follow local rules regarding access to polling sites.

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President Trump yesterday revived his idea to build a promenade behind the Lincoln Memorial.

Why it matters: The proposal joins Trump's growing list of plans to reshape Washington. Several projects face legal challenges and a time crunch.

Zoom in: Trump, who first floated the idea for a promenade in June, described a "beautiful" and "flat project" — "basically a walkway down to the water."

• The concept draws on the original plans for the memorial, which envisioned boat landings along the Potomac.
• One problem is the four-lane Ohio Drive, which separates the memorial from the river.
• Trump called the proposed walkway a "great architectural concept" that would be "simple and beautiful" and built in white stone.

Meanwhile, speaking at the Reflecting Pool, Trump talked up his renovations to the landmark, repeating disputed claims of vandalism and overstating his role in reducing crime in D.C.

• Trump said his administration was "giving serious thought" to renaming it the "Trump Reflecting Pool" — then said he was joking.

Go deeper on his speech

🗳️ Robert White's exit from the D.C. Council is sparking a power struggle over who gets to fill his seat.

• The D.C. Democratic Party is warning against efforts to circumvent their appointment process amid rumors that independent Council member Christina Henderson could switch parties and claim the seat. The dispute could end up in court. (Washington Sun)

⛳ Trump's East Potomac golf overhaul is taking shape. New plans call for a championship course, a $304.5 million seawall and the displacement of longtime recreational activities.

• But the proposal leaves unanswered how much the golf course would cost, when it would be completed and who could play. (Washington Post)

Voting is important because, you know, democracy and all — but it's also just kinda sweet to get a sticker.

🐻 State of play: Ballotpedia has compiled a round-up of voting stickers from across the country.

• Sure, the DMV has some cool ones, but this adorable bear sticker in New Hampshire? A great reminder that we're fur the people, by the people.

💡 Anna appreciates these tips for getting "I Voted" sticker goo off your clothing (been there).

🗳️ Cuneyt is off to vote and, later, to candidates' parties as the results come in.

☕️ Mimi is treating herself to a coffee out post-voting.

Today's newsletter was edited by Alexa Mencia Orozco.