Four astronauts currently in space can now vote thanks to a special voting system. This system was created by NASA and allows astronauts on board the International Space Station to cast their votes securely and anonymously. The same technology that helps astronauts communicate with Earth also allows them to participate in the democratic voting process.
After voting, the electronic ballot is transmitted through NASA’s tracking and communication satellite system to an antenna on Earth in New Mexico. From there, it is sent to the mission control center at Johnson Space Center and forwarded to the appropriate county clerk. The ballot is encrypted to ensure privacy.
Voting from space is not new and has been happening since the late 1990s when Texas became the first US state to legalize voting from Earth orbit.
