Astronauts from the ISS managed to vote in the US elections: how they did it

Astronauts on the ISS cast their vote/freepik

Astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) were able to vote in the US elections. They did this thanks to a special law passed in Texas in 1997.

This law allows American astronauts to vote remotely, even while in low Earth orbit. This is written by CNN.

Four astronauts currently on the ISS – Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit and Nick Hague – used this opportunity to participate in the US presidential election. In social networks, they published a picture from the ISS with the caption: “It doesn't matter where you sit, stand or float – the main thing is that you vote!”

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The voting procedure for astronauts is carefully designed by NASA. First, astronauts are sent a test ballot with a unique password. After successful testing, the protected bulletin is sent to them in the form of an electronic document. With personal credentials, astronauts can access this document, fill it out, and send it back to Earth. The completed ballot is printed and processed in the same way as other election documents.

District Election Commission spokeswoman Rocio Torres-Segura explained that ballots from space are transmitted to Earth via an encrypted text message through the communication system between the ISS and the Control Center. flights The electronic document is then opened on Earth with the help of a password, which guarantees the security and confidentiality of the choice.

Thus, thanks to modern technologies and legal innovations, astronauts can fulfill their civic duty even in orbit, confirming the principle – the right voice is available to everyone, no matter where they are.