Voting from Space: How Astronauts Cast Their Ballots

Even when they're orbiting Earth, astronauts still have the right to vote. Voting from space isn't as simple as heading to the local polling station, though. Instead, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) use NASA's Space Communication and Navigation Program. They start by filling out a Federal Post Card Application to get an absentee ballot since they're away from home. Once their ballot is filled out, it's sent through NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS) to a ground antenna in New Mexico. From there, it travels via landline to the Mission Control Center in Houston. Finally, the vote is electronically delivered to the local county clerk for filing.

This process began in 1997 when Texas passed a law allowing astronauts to vote from space. Since then, many astronauts have participated in U. S. elections while in orbit. In 2020, astronaut Kate Rubins cast her vote in the presidential election from the ISS. Astronaut Butch Wilmore, currently on the ISS, considers voting a crucial duty as a citizen. "NASA makes it easy for us to participate in elections, " Wilmore said, showing appreciation for the process.

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