ANCHORAGE, Alaska — In a remote expanse of island tundra in western Alaska, a resident of Adak is set to once again take on the role of the final American to cast an in-person vote for the presidency, a tradition that has been upheld for 12 years in this furthest-off community of the United States.
The distinction of having the nation’s last voter belongs to Adak since the town replaced absentee-only voting with in-person ballots for the 2012 election. This shift marked the inaugural occasion for the town to contribute to this peculiar honor.
“People tend to enjoy the day because, realistically, everyone knows the results are largely decided well in advance of our closing time,” stated city manager Layton Lockett. “Regardless, it still brings a sense of joy.”
When the voting period ends in Adak, it’s already 1 a.m. on the East Coast.
Geographically speaking, Adak Island is located at the midpoint of the Aleutian Island chain, flanked by the Bering Sea to the north and the North Pacific Ocean to the south. Interestingly enough, it lies closer to Russia than to mainland Alaska, with a distance of 1,200 miles (1,931 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage, making it even further west than Hawaii, which wraps up voting one hour sooner.
Mary Nelson reminisced that the first instance of Adak’s last voter during the 2012 election happened when Republican Mitt Romney appeared to concede to President Barack Obama. Although she was unaware of the results until the following morning. “As I switched on my computer to check the news, that’s when I found out Obama had been reelected,” Nelson shared, recalling her memory through a phone call. She had been a poll worker in Adak and had almost forgotten to cast her vote until just before the polls were set to close at 8 p.m.
“When I opened the voting booth’s curtain to exit, the city manager took my picture and announced that I was the last voter in Adak,” she recounted. However, that celebration was short-lived as there was still work ahead. “We had votes to tally, and we were waiting for instructions from Nome regarding our tally,” she explained.
While there may be U.S. territories situated further west than Alaska, citizens residing in places like Guam or American Samoa do not have the ability to participate in presidential voting due to the electoral structure, according to the National Archives.
“I’ve been delighted about it and have shared my story with many,” noted Nelson, who is now 73 years old. She expresses her pride by sharing printouts of her story with family and friends she thinks would find it amusing.
Adak Island carries historical weight, significantly due to its involvement in World War II. The U.S. developed facilities there following Japanese forces’ advances deeper into the Aleutians. Troops landed in August 1942, and just two months later, enemy aircraft dropped bombs on the island. The Navy began constructing bases in early 1943. By May of the same year, about 27,000 troops convened on Adak to prepare for the reclaiming of Attu Island from Japanese forces.
The island also has had its fair share of distinguished visitors and residents, including writers like Dashiell Hammett and Gore Vidal, as well as several prominent public figures, according to the Adak Historical Society. In a light-hearted moment, the Army tried to cultivate a forest on Adak between 1943 and 1945, which led to the humorous sign placed in the area stating, “You are now entering and leaving the Adak National Forest.”
Following the war, control of the island switched to the Air Force and eventually the Navy in 1950, with the Navy managing around 80,000 acres of the total 180,000-acre island. The remaining portions became part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The naval base was decommissioned in 1997, with the Navy retaining about 5,600 acres, while the rest is held by the Aleut Corporation, the local city, or the refuge.
Currently, the city faces challenges such as a declining population and a lack of economic opportunities. The local fish processing plant has faced multiple closures over the years, leading to a drop in resident numbers from around 6,000 at the base’s peak to just 171 according to the 2020 Census, with current estimates likely dropping below 50 full-time residents.
In Alaska, schools must have a minimum of 10 students to remain operational. Unfortunately, Mike Hanley, the superintendent of the Aleutian Region School District, revealed that the school had to shut down in 2023 after starting the year with just six students, dwindling down to one by November, before that student left the island.
On the political front, Lockett noted that in small towns, it’s relatively easy to gauge locals’ political leanings, but there’s one common aspiration that seems to unite everyone: the hope for some efforts to encourage military presence to return to Adak.
“We find ourselves in a challenging phase of figuring out what’s next for Adak, with our struggles becoming more pronounced,” Lockett remarked.
As the upcoming presidential election approaches, the city is gearing up to embrace its unique position in the national narrative. City Clerk Jana Lekanoff mused, “I’m not certain who the last voter will be this year. Maybe there will be a bit of friendly competition?”