Thanks to a special Texas law, the two astronauts will still be able to perform their civic duty, voting absentee from low-Earth orbit.
Since then, multiple astronauts have cast ballots from space, including now-retired NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao in 2004.
Like most US astronauts, Wilmore and Williams live near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Texas’ Harris County, where election officials confirmed to CNN that they are working with the space agency to send the astronauts their ballots on Saturday.
“Before sending the astronauts their ballot, a test ballot with a unique password is sent first,” said Rosio Torres-Segura, a spokesperson for the Harris County clerk.
Once the astronauts vote their live ballot, it is returned, printed, and processed with other ballots.”Wilmore and Williams’ ballots will arrive on Earth about five months before they do.
Persons:
Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Wilmore, Williams, ” Williams, “, ” Wilmore, David Wolf, Russia’s, Leroy Chiao, ‘, ” Chiao, It’s, Chiao, ”, Rosio Torres, Segura
Organizations:
CNN, International Space Station, NASA, Texas Legislature, Space, Space Network, NASA White, Space Center
Locations:
Texas, Las Cruces , New Mexico, Houston, NASA’s, Texas ’ Harris County, Harris County