Stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have announced their plans to vote in the upcoming U.S. presidential election from space.
Speaking to reporters, Wilmore confirmed, “I sent down my request for a ballot today. It’s a very important role that we play as citizens, and NASA makes it very easy for us to do that.” Williams echoed his sentiments, adding, “It’s a very important duty that we have as citizens, and I’m looking forward to being able to vote from space, which is pretty cool.”
The astronauts have been on the ISS since their Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered several mid-flight issues, extending what was meant to be an eight-day mission to a stay that will last until February. They will return to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule, not the Starliner they initially took to space.
Election officials from Harris County, Texas – home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center – collaborate with the space agency to facilitate voting from space. Astronauts receive a password-protected PDF file containing clickable boxes to mark their choices. After a test ballot is sent with a unique password, the astronauts send back their filled out ballots, which are then printed and processed with other ballots, ensuring their votes are secret and secure.
This isn’t the first time astronauts have voted from space. Since 1997, a Texas legislature bill has allowed NASA employees to participate in elections from orbit. David Wolf was the first to do so while on board the Russian Mir Space Station. In 2020, astronaut Kate Rubins also cast her vote from the ISS.
Williams and Wilmore have remained positive during their extended stay. At a recent press conference, they discussed their experiences and the unexpected turn of events. “We were watching our spaceship fly away,” Williams described the moment the Starliner returned to Earth without them. Both astronauts, with backgrounds in the Navy, are accustomed to unpredictable deployments. “90% of our astronaut training is about preparing for the unexpected,” Wilmore said. He also expressed unwavering faith in NASA, stating, “That represents something that we stand for as an agency – we go beyond, we do things that are out of the ordinary. This is not easy.”
Williams, recently named commander of the ISS, remains optimistic about the additional time in space. “We’re here with our friends, we’ve got a ride home,” she said, reflecting on the extended mission. Despite the challenges, both astronauts feel grateful for their experiences and look forward to continuing their duties aboard the ISS until their scheduled return.
This development underscores the resilience and dedication of those who venture beyond our planet, reminding us that even from space, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship persist.