Voting is a fundamental right for U.S. citizens, and this extends even to NASA astronauts who are orbiting Earth aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Thanks to a unique system, American astronauts can participate in elections, regardless of their location in space.
The process for astronauts to vote from space was first developed in 1997, when Texas lawmakers passed a bill allowing astronauts to cast absentee ballots from space. Since NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston is home to most U.S. astronauts, the state of Texas is integral to making space voting possible.
Before an election, astronauts receive their ballots electronically via a secure email system. These ballots are prepared by county clerks and sent to NASA’s Mission Control Center. From there, the ballots are uplinked to the ISS, where astronauts cast their votes. Once completed, the ballots are sent back to Earth using the same secure system and delivered to the respective county clerks for official processing.
Astronauts undergo the same voter registration procedures as other U.S. citizens, but they complete a special form known as the “Federal Postcard Application” before their space mission to ensure they are eligible to vote from orbit.
For astronauts, the ability to vote from space is not just a duty, but a privilege. NASA ensures that those aboard the ISS, even while orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth, have the same rights and responsibilities as any other citizen. Through secure digital technology, NASA continues to ensure that astronauts can make their voices heard, even from the final frontier. This process reflects America’s commitment to ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to participate in the democratic process, no matter where they are.
