With a divided country heading to the polls today, extra security measures have been taken to protect government buildings, businesses, and election night gatherings across Washington D.C.

This week, the Secret Service erected new eight-foot-high metal fencing around both the White House and Treasury Department complex, with the barriers extending into adjacent parts of Lafayette Square. Similar fortifications now surround the Naval Observatory grounds and Vice President Kamala Harris’s residence.

At the Capitol, temporary bicycle-rack barriers posted with “Police Line: Do not cross” signs encircle the perimeter. The Secret Service also installed barriers outside the West Palm Beach, Florida, convention center where Donald Trump will hold his election-night party.

“I feel very sad that this is the state of things,” admitted D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser at a news conference on Tuesday. “But the way that I deal with anxiety is to work and to make sure that we are as prepared as we can be.”

The Metropolitan Police Department has implemented a comprehensive security strategy, focusing on polling locations and deploying extra officers around the White House and downtown areas. The department’s Falcon 1 police helicopter and drones will monitor key areas across the district.

“There is concern around the city. We’re not expecting full-fledged pandemonium like we saw after January 6, or four years ago,” said Eric J. Jones, vice president of government affairs for the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington.

Meanwhile, many private businesses are taking their own precautions, despite District officials stating there’s no need to cover windows. According to the Washington Post, Admiral Security Services has mobilized roughly 2,000 private personnel for 12-hour shifts at its client facilities, particularly those concentrated around the White House. Building owners have been advised to increase security staffing, secure materials for emergency barriers, and practice evacuation procedures.