September 14, 2024: Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will be casting their votes in the upcoming U.S. presidential election from space. Currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the seasoned astronauts will be participating in the election from an altitude of 250 miles above Earth.
Due to delays with their Boeing Starliner mission, Williams and Wilmore will be unable to return to Earth in time to vote in person on November 5th. Despite this, they confirmed their plans to vote from space during a press conference today.
“I sent down my request for a ballot today, and it should reach us in a couple of weeks,” Wilmore said. He praised NASA’s support in facilitating space voting, highlighting its importance. “It’s a very important role that we all play as citizens to be included in those elections, and NASA makes it very easy for us to do that. We’re excited for the opportunity.”
Williams echoed Wilmore’s sentiments, emphasizing the significance of participating in the electoral process even from space. “It’s a very important duty, and I’m looking forward to voting from space,” she stated.
While the astronauts chose not to disclose their voting choices, it’s worth noting that the practice of voting from space dates back to 1997. The first American to vote from space was astronaut David Wolf, who cast his ballot from the Mir Space Station. More recently, NASA astronaut Kate Rubins voted from the ISS in 2020.