Island voters aim for perfect turnout in November election

A small island off Michigan's Upper Peninsula is attempting a 100% voter turnout in the upcoming midterm election.

Drummond Island Township covers 134 square miles but contains only one voting precinct for Election Day. Early in-person voting is not available on the island; residents must travel to Kincheloe on the mainland. Township Supervisor Krystal Truax described the journey as a 50-mile one-way trip. The trip requires paying ferry fare, spending two hours in transit, and waiting an hour to vote.

The island has 1,116 registered voters. Historically, the community has outperformed state averages. In the 2024 presidential election, 74% of eligible residents voted. Turnout was 63% during the 2022 midterms. Truax is participating in a new effort to get every single resident to the polls. She stated that if the island can achieve full participation, other areas with similar barriers might follow.

Bob Chunn, a technology entrepreneur who moved to the island with his wife during the pandemic, launched the campaign. Chunn founded a nonprofit to provide voters with information. He is using Drummond Island as a test case for a new strategy. The plan includes sending reminders, knocking on doors, and organizing rides to the voting location. Chunn noted that the current baseline for voter participation is low, making the island an ideal place to see how high turnout can be pushed.

The campaign focuses on local issues rather than national politics. Chunn has promoted a school millage on the ballot to engage residents who feel disconnected from state and federal races. He told voters to skip discussions about politicians and focus on local decisions like schools and millages. This message was central to a recent town hall event where volunteers shared their strategies.

Tom Salwoski, a resident, attended the town hall and shared his past hesitation to vote. He felt his individual vote did not matter amidst negative advertising and national political narratives. Salwoski explained that local ads often focused on national figures, which turned him off. However, learning about specific local races and millages changed his perspective.

Salwoski said he now feels more comfortable reviewing the full ballot because he understands the local stakes. He recognized that his vote could be the deciding factor in a township race or millage vote. The volunteers hope that by emphasizing these local impacts, they can increase participation and demonstrate a model for the rest of the state.