With the mood turning nasty in Washington, D.C., it’s no wonder people are tired of politics as usual. So how about politics as unusual? Forget the partisan bickering for a moment and cast your vote in these elections.

The greatest American

The ballot buzz: It’s down to five nominees on the Discovery Channel special series: Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and George Washington.

How to vote: Go to www.discovery.com. The winner will be revealed during today’s live finale at 8 p.m. on Discovery.

The hottest U.S. senator

The ballot buzz: A Web poll is out to determine which senator is the majority leader in the looks department. So far, the candidates are narrowed down to Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Evan Bayh of Indiana and Joe Biden of Delaware. How to vote: Go to www. hottestussenator.com by Monday to vote before the field is narrowed to two.