Last in-person vote cast in Alaska's Adak on election day
- Adak Island, a former military base, is now home to fewer than 50 residents, a drastic decline from 6,000 during its peak.
- The local school closed in 2023 due to the lack of students, highlighting the community's population struggles.
- The remaining residents face economic challenges and are searching for a way forward, reflecting broader issues of rural decline.
On a remote island in the Aleutian chain of Alaska, the last U.S. resident cast their in-person presidential vote amidst a dwindling population. Adak, once a military base during WWII and home to around 6,000 residents, now struggles with less than 50 full-time inhabitants. Former residents recall significant moments, such as Mary Nelson becoming the first last voter during the 2012 election, unaware of the results until the following morning. With the recent closure of the local school, the island's future appears uncertain. The community's shared struggle unites the remaining residents, who face economic challenges and seek direction. Adak's historical significance and the changes it has undergone reflect broader issues facing small and isolated communities across the United States.