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This story is part of Elections 2020, CNET’s coverage of the run-up to the November vote.
Regardless of how you cast your vote, you must admire this NASA astronaut who managed to cast your vote from space. Kate Rubins, who is currently aboard the International Space Station, posted a photo of herself in front of a padded booth marked “ISS Voting Booth”, with the text “From the International Space Station: I voted today” .
NASA notes that this is not the first time Rubins has voted from space. He did it in 2016, when he was also on the ISS.
“I think it’s very important that everyone votes,” Rubins said in a video uploaded by NASA. “And if we can do it from space, I think people can also do it from the ground.” Rubins’ six-month ISS mission began on October 14, which was also his 42nd birthday.
Most astronauts choose to vote as Texas residents because they are moving to Houston for training, however, NASA said those who wish to vote as residents of their home state can make special arrangements.
Ballots from the county where the astronaut is registered are tested on a space station training computer, then the actual ballot is generated and linked to the ISS with specific crew member credentials to keep it safe. The completed ballot is sent electronically to Earth for official registration.
“Voting in space has been possible since 1997, when a bill was passed to legally allow voting from space in Texas,” NASA said in a statement. “Since then, multiple NASA astronauts have exercised this civic duty from orbit. As NASA works to send astronauts to the Moon in 2024 and eventually to Mars, the agency plans to continue to ensure that astronauts who want to vote in the space they can, no matter where they are in the solar system. “
NASA had expected American astronauts from the SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the ISS to join Rubins in voting from space, but their mission was delayed until early to mid-November, so they can now vote from Earth.
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For the November Elections, Make a Plan to Vote
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