Three US astronauts vote in midterm elections from space

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 09:06 · Archive

Three NASA astronauts cast ballots in the November 3 midterm elections from the International Space Station using a secure electronic system.

Three NASA astronauts voting aboard the International Space Station cast ballots in the November 3 midterm elections using a secure electronic system. Anil Menon, Luke Delaney and Jessica Watkins all participated in the rare event, sending their votes to Earth via satellite communications.

Menon demonstrated the process in a video shared on social media, showing his 'polling station'—his private cabin aboard the station—where he completed an absentee ballot on his computer. He transmitted his vote to Harris County in Texas, where NASA astronauts are typically registered to vote because the county is home to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The voting process relies on NASA's existing communications infrastructure. Astronauts request an absentee ballot using a Federal Post Card Application, the same form used by US military personnel serving abroad. Once completed, the ballot is transmitted via NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System to a ground antenna at White Sands facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, then forwarded to Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center before reaching the relevant county election official. NASA stresses that the process is subject to strict security measures to protect ballot secrecy and integrity.

How it is being reported

• NASA astronauts cast US election votes from the International Space StationIn a rare event, three American astronauts voted in Tuesday's US midterm elections from the International Space Station, using advanced links to send electronic ballots to officials on Earth.Euronews · 5 Nov, 08:34
• US astronauts vote from space in 2026 midterm electionsNASA astronaut Anil Menon demonstrated on social media how he cast his ballot for Harris County in Texas, from space.Al Jazeera · 3 Nov, 21:03

In this story: Anil Menon · Luke Delaney · Jessica Watkins · NASA · International Space Station · Harris County · Johnson Space Center

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log