NASA Astronaut to Vote in US Presidential Election from Space Station

Electronic Voting Transmission to Space Station
NASA-Headquartered Texas Allows Space Voting

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) plans to participate in voting from within the ISS ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Houston, Texas, where NASA's mission control center is located, permits space voting using electronic ballots, and it is known that the astronaut also voted from space in the previous election.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press on the 26th (local time), NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, who will board the ISS next month, has decided to cast her vote from space. Rubins stated, "Participating in democracy is very important, and I am honored to be able to vote in the November election from space," adding, "If astronauts can vote from space, I believe people on Earth will vote as well." It is known that Rubins, along with fellow astronaut Shane Kimbrough, also voted from the ISS during the 2016 presidential election.

Most NASA astronauts reside in Houston, Texas, where NASA's mission control center is located. Texas allows space voting using electronic ballots, making it possible for astronauts to vote from space. The space voting process involves the ground control center sending an electronic ballot to the ISS, where the astronaut completes the ballot and then transmits it back to the election district official.