<p>Astronauts in space are also eligible to vote in the US presidential election, even while they are away from Earth.</p>

<p>During a talk with students at Tennessee Tech University via a virtual interaction, Astronaut Butch Wilmore told students how he voted early from space, AP reported.</p>

<p>“I got my ballot in and made sure that mine got counted,” he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-bomb-threats-of-russian-origin-machine-glitches-delay-polling-in-some-states-773739">US election: 'Bomb threats of Russian origin', machine glitches delay polling in some states</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>How do astronauts vote from space?</strong></h2>

<p>Wilmore, one of the four astronauts, requested an absentee ballot to vote from space.</p>

<p>A law passed in 1997 in Texas, where NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) is located, allows astronauts in a space flight to cast their ballot during the early voting period and on election day. This law was passed after American astronauts began going on long space missions that lasted months.</p>

<p>According to NASA, the votes by astronauts are transmitted through the agency’s Near Space Network, which consists of satellites that orbit Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;US Election Results: Will US Get Its First Woman President In Harris?</strong></p>

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<p>Once the astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) fill out their election ballots, they are encrypted and uploaded to the onboard computer. They are then sent to NASA’s facility on Earth.</p>

<p>The ballots are then transmitted to the Mission Control Center at NASA's JSC, from where they are delivered to the astronauts’ respective counties electronically for filing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-did-kamala-harris-stage-a-phone-call-at-dnc-headquarters-773711">Watch: Did Kamala Harris stage a phone call at DNC Headquarters?</a></strong></p>

<p>According to NASA, the ballots are “encrypted and accessible only by the astronaut and the clerk” to ensure the vote’s integrity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Through this process, NASA astronauts including Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are stuck at the ISS since June, can vote in the US presidential elections.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Astronauts in space are also eligible to vote in the US presidential election, even while they are away from Earth. During a talk with students at Tennessee Tech University via a virtual interaction, Astronaut Butch Wilmore told students how he voted early from space, AP reported.

Astronauts in space are also eligible to vote in the US presidential election, even while they are away from Earth. During a talk with students at Tennessee Tech University via a virtual interaction, Astronaut Butch Wilmore told students how he voted early from space, AP reported. “I got my ballot in and made sure that mine got counted,” he said. Also read | US election: 'Bomb threats of Russian origin', machine glitches delay polling in some states How do astronauts vote from space? Wilmore, one of the four astronauts, requested an absentee ballot to vote from space. A law passed in 1997 in Texas, where NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) is located, allows astronauts in a space flight to cast their ballot during the early voting period and on election day. This law was passed after American astronauts began going on long space missions that lasted months. According to NASA, the votes by astronauts are transmitted through the agency’s Near Space Network, which consists of satellites that orbit Earth. Watch | US Election Results: Will US Get Its First Woman President In Harris? × Once the astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) fill out their election ballots, they are encrypted and uploaded to the onboard computer. They are then sent to NASA’s facility on Earth. The ballots are then transmitted to the Mission Control Center at NASA's JSC, from where they are delivered to the astronauts’ respective counties electronically for filing. Also read | Watch: Did Kamala Harris stage a phone call at DNC Headquarters? According to NASA, the ballots are “encrypted and accessible only by the astronaut and the clerk” to ensure the vote’s integrity. Through this process, NASA astronauts including Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are stuck at the ISS since June, can vote in the US presidential elections. (With inputs from agencies)

Four NASA astronauts vote from space with absentee ballots

<p>American astronauts living on the International Space Station (ISS) won't have to refrain from taking part in the presidential election just because they aren't on Earth. All four of them - &nbsp;Don Pettit, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams - will be taking part in the election process through two methods.</p>

<p>While Wilmore and Williams have cast an absentee ballot, Hague and Pettit likely filled out Federal Postcard Applications (FPCAs) before arriving at the station. FPCAs are similar to absentee ballots but are used by US citizens and military personnel living overseas. For Hague and Pettit, it still applies since they are in space.</p>

<p>Talking to reporters during a call in September, Williams said that getting to vote from space, "is pretty cool."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's a very important duty that we have as citizens," Williams said.</p>

<p>Wimore also talked about casting his vote from space, telling reporters that he had requested an absentee ballot. "NASA makes it very easy for us to [be included in elections], so we're excited about that opportunity," he said.</p>

<h2>Starliner problems stranded Williams and Wilmore</h2>

<p>Both Williams and Wilmore weren't supposed to be casting an absentee ballot. However, they have been stuck on the ISS ever since going to space aboard the Boeing Starliner in early June.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/2024-election-when-will-counting-of-votes-begin-and-when-will-final-results-be-announced-773350">When will counting of votes begin and when will final results be announced</a></strong></p>

<p>The spacecraft was initially supposed to blast off on May 6. However, a problem with the oxygen valve led to the launch being scrubbed.</p>

<p>A computer hardware fault led to the launch again being called off on June 1.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Poll Suggests Indian Americans Torn Between Harris And Trump | WION Originals</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>It finally took off on June 5 with Williams and Wilmore on board but was hit by more problems as its thrusters started experiencing problems. Stress testing revealed performance degradation in the thrusters, and the software marked five of them as damaged.</p>

<p>Their return journey was jeopardised because of the technical issues with the Starliner, and a week-long trip has now stretched to months. They are now only expected to return to Earth in February 2025.</p>

<p>NASA tried for weeks to fix the problem, but nothing worked. So, Starliner returned to Earth without its crew in early September. A couple of weeks later, SpaceX's Crew-9 arrived at the ISS and the two astronauts were officially assigned as members.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


American astronauts living on the International Space Station (ISS) won't have to refrain from taking part in the presidential election just because they aren't on Earth.

American astronauts living on the International Space Station (ISS) won't have to refrain from taking part in the presidential election just because they aren't on Earth. All four of them - Don Pettit, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams - will be taking part in the election process through two methods. While Wilmore and Williams have cast an absentee ballot, Hague and Pettit likely filled out Federal Postcard Applications (FPCAs) before arriving at the station. FPCAs are similar to absentee ballots but are used by US citizens and military personnel living overseas. For Hague and Pettit, it still applies since they are in space. Talking to reporters during a call in September, Williams said that getting to vote from space, "is pretty cool." "It's a very important duty that we have as citizens," Williams said. Wimore also talked about casting his vote from space, telling reporters that he had requested an absentee ballot. "NASA makes it very easy for us to [be included in elections], so we're excited about that opportunity," he said. Starliner problems stranded Williams and Wilmore Both Williams and Wilmore weren't supposed to be casting an absentee ballot. However, they have been stuck on the ISS ever since going to space aboard the Boeing Starliner in early June. Also Read: When will counting of votes begin and when will final results be announced The spacecraft was initially supposed to blast off on May 6. However, a problem with the oxygen valve led to the launch being scrubbed. A computer hardware fault led to the launch again being called off on June 1. Watch: Poll Suggests Indian Americans Torn Between Harris And Trump | WION Originals × It finally took off on June 5 with Williams and Wilmore on board but was hit by more problems as its thrusters started experiencing problems. Stress testing revealed performance degradation in the thrusters, and the software marked five of them as damaged. Their return journey was jeopardised because of the technical issues with the Starliner, and a week-long trip has now stretched to months. They are now only expected to return to Earth in February 2025. NASA tried for weeks to fix the problem, but nothing worked. So, Starliner returned to Earth without its crew in early September. A couple of weeks later, SpaceX's Crew-9 arrived at the ISS and the two astronauts were officially assigned as members.

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore cast their votes from space. Here's how

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Four NASA astronauts vote from space with absentee ballots

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore cast their votes from space. Here's how