It's an Election Day like none other: Against the backdrop of a once-in-a-century pandemic, a national reckoning against systemic racism and a strained economy, voters are heading to the polls.

Already, a record-breaking number have cast their ballots early, either by mail or in-person at polling sites.

But the race is far from decided.

From Portland, Oregon, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, photographers captured the excitement and the anxiety of this historic Election Day.

By Elizabeth Chuck

Voters wait in line to cast their ballot in Squirrel Hill, Penn. (Michael Swensen / for NBC News)

Sk Hashan, Laila Dola and Ireen Mahmood take a selfie after voting at P.S. 69 in Jackson Heights, New York. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

Sk Hashan, Laila Dola and Ireen Mahmood take a selfie after voting at P.S. 69 in Jackson Heights, New York. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

A wall in Portland. (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

A wall in Portland. (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

Jenna Mae hugs a tree on Mt. Tabor during her morning walk in Portland. Mae said this is her daily routine and she puts her prayers and wishes into the trees. "I have to say, I woke up more anxious than usual today and this is extra important. It's a daily ritual but it has more significance today." (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

Jenna Mae hugs a tree on Mt. Tabor during her morning walk in Portland. Mae said this is her daily routine and she puts her prayers and wishes into the trees. "I have to say, I woke up more anxious than usual today and this is extra important. It's a daily ritual but it has more significance today." (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

A voter shows her enthusiasm in Phoenix. (Dominic Valente / for NBC News)

A woman stands in Times Square next to the boarded-up Loft store. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

A woman stands in Times Square next to the boarded-up Loft store. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

People walk in front of boarded up storefronts around Union Square in New York. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

People walk in front of boarded up storefronts around Union Square in New York. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

People walk by a boarded up Walgreens in Chinatown in Washington. (Ting Shen / for NBC News)

People walk by a boarded up Walgreens in Chinatown in Washington. (Ting Shen / for NBC News)

Danielle Foster, 40, waits to enter her polling place in Mount Washington, Penn. "I'm nervous and excited," said Foster. (Michael Swensen / for NBC News)

Matthew Parker-Hicks, left, and Samantha Jabouyna, both of Portland, cast their ballots outside the Multnomah County elections office. (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

Matthew Parker-Hicks, left, and Samantha Jabouyna, both of Portland, cast their ballots outside the Multnomah County elections office. (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

Voters line up as the polls open in the early morning hours in Phoenix. (Dominic Valente / for NBC News)

Voters line up as the polls open in the early morning hours in Phoenix. (Dominic Valente / for NBC News)

Trump supporters stand across the street from the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center, one of the most popular voting locations near downtown Houston. (Annie Mulligan / for NBC News)

Democratic Arizona Senate candidate Mark Kelly meets with supporters in Phoenix. (Dominic Valente / for NBC News)

Democratic Arizona Senate candidate Mark Kelly meets with supporters in Phoenix. (Dominic Valente / for NBC News)

Residents wait in a long line outside the Heinz History Center to vote in downtown Pittsburgh. (Michael Swensen / for NBC News)

Residents wait in a long line outside the Heinz History Center to vote in downtown Pittsburgh. (Michael Swensen / for NBC News)

A voter casts her ballot at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center in Houston. (Annie Mulligan / for NBC News)

A voter casts her ballot at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center in Houston. (Annie Mulligan / for NBC News)

Tootsie Warhol and New York City mayoral candidate Loree K. Sutton in Times Square, New York. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

Two Trump supporters stand outside Trump Tower. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

Two Trump supporters stand outside Trump Tower. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

A voter casts her ballot at the Capitol One Arena Super voting station in Washington. (Ting Shen / for NBC News)

A voter casts her ballot at the Capitol One Arena Super voting station in Washington. (Ting Shen / for NBC News)

A voter casts a ballot at the Nationals Park voting station in Washington. (Ting Shen / for NBC News)

A voter casts a ballot at the Nationals Park voting station in Washington. (Ting Shen / for NBC News)

Voters stand in line to cast their ballots in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Dominic Valente / for NBC News)

Voters stand in line to cast their ballots in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Dominic Valente / for NBC News)

Jeffry Lords and his partner Tamela Clover drop off their ballots in Portland. Lords and Clover both said they voted for a third party candidate. "I really didn't like either candidate so I chose to vote for one of the third parties because the two-party system is bad for our country," Lords said. "I was hoping my vote helped contribute to moving away from the two-party system." (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

Jeffry Lords and his partner Tamela Clover drop off their ballots in Portland. Lords and Clover both said they voted for a third party candidate. "I really didn't like either candidate so I chose to vote for one of the third parties because the two-party system is bad for our country," Lords said. "I was hoping my vote helped contribute to moving away from the two-party system." (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

Protesters and crowds gather on Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House. (Ting Shen/ for NBC News)

A worker at the Miami-Dade County Elections Department pushes a cart with ballots as votes are counted. (Sam Navarro / for NBC News)

A worker at the Miami-Dade County Elections Department pushes a cart with ballots as votes are counted. (Sam Navarro / for NBC News)

Dean Addams, 65, offers pins to the last voters of the night outside of the Cranberry Highlands Country Club in Cranberry Township, Pa. (Michael Swensen / for NBC News)

Dean Addams, 65, offers pins to the last voters of the night outside of the Cranberry Highlands Country Club in Cranberry Township, Pa. (Michael Swensen / for NBC News)

A watch party at Axelrad Beer Garden in Houston. (Annie Mulligan / for NBC News)

Ashley Hayes, of Providence, R.I., watches election updates on the Jumbotron at McPherson Square in Washington. (Ting Shen/ for NBC News)

Ashley Hayes, of Providence, R.I., watches election updates on the Jumbotron at McPherson Square in Washington. (Ting Shen/ for NBC News)

A demonstrator waits outside Revolution Hall where people gather to listen to speeches and march in Portland. (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

A demonstrator waits outside Revolution Hall where people gather to listen to speeches and march in Portland. (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

Arizona Democrats react to county election results in Phoenix. (Dominic Valente / for NBC News)

People watch Joe Biden's address on a large screen at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington. (Ting Shen / for NBC News)

People watch Joe Biden's address on a large screen at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington. (Ting Shen / for NBC News)

A pickup truck with flags supporting President Donald Trump drives by Versailles Cuban Cuisine as people gather to watch election results in Miami. (Sam Navarro / for NBC News)

A pickup truck with flags supporting President Donald Trump drives by Versailles Cuban Cuisine as people gather to watch election results in Miami. (Sam Navarro / for NBC News)

People attend a election results watch party at Gramps in Miami. (Sam Navarro / for NBC News)

People attend a election results watch party at Gramps in Miami. (Sam Navarro / for NBC News)

Trump supporters wave a flag in Times Square in New York. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

Trump supporters wave a flag in Times Square in New York. (Amy Lombard / for NBC News)

Yolanda Munos, bar manager at Santa Fe Taqueria, watches the live election results as she cleans up the bar for closing in Portland. "Honestly, I try to keep politics out of my bar as much as possible, but today might be the exception," Munos said. (Alisha Jucevic / for NBC News)

Photo Editors: Shahrzad Elghanayan; Matt Nighswander / NBC News

For more news from election night go to NBCNews.com