Astronauts celebrate Election Day in space, cast early votes from ISS

[Lauren]

DID YOU KNOW IT’S POSSIBLE TO CAST A BALLOT FROM SPACE?

ASTRONAUTS INCLUDING BUTCH WILMORE, SUNI (soo-nee) WILLIAMS AND DON PETTIT VOTED EARLY INTHE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

THEY POSTED THIS ELECTION DAY PHOTO OF THEMSELVES ON INSTAGRAM WEARING PATRIOTIC SOCKS.

THE CAPTION READING– “IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU ARE SITTING, STANDING OR FLOATING – WHAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU VOTE!”
THEY MANAGED TO BE A PART OF THE MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE WHO VOTED EARLY IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS THANKS TO NASA’S NEAR SPACE NETWORK WHICH IS A CONSTELLATION OF SATELLITES IN SPACE THAT COMMUNICATE WITH ANTENNAS AND OUR PLANET. 

AN ENCRYPTED WORD DOCUMENT GETS SENT UP TO THEIR EMAIL ADDRESSES AND THEY CAN OPEN THE DOCUMENT WITH THEIR PASSWORD. 

ONCE THE ASTRONAUTS VOTE –  IT IS RETURNED, PRINTED, AND PROCESSED WITH OTHER BALLOTS.

NASA SAYS THAT ASTRONAUTS HAVE VOTED IN U-S ELECTIONS SINCE 1997, WHEN TEXAS PASSED A LAW ALLOWING ASTRONAUTS TO VOTE FROM SPACE.

AND IT’S NOT JUST FROM SPACE – BUT OVERSEAS THAT AMERICANS ARE VOTING.

ACCORDING TO ‘VOTE FROM ABROAD’ – THE NUMBER IS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN 20-20. 

THIS GROUP INCLUDES MILITARY PERSONNEL, DUAL CITIZENS AND PEOPLE BORN OUTSIDE THE U-S TO AMERICAN PARENTS. 

AS ELECTIONS HAVE GOTTEN TIGHTER, BOTH PARTIES ARE COUNTING ON THOSE ABROAD VOTES THAT COULD BE THE MARGIN OF VICTORY.

THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE GAVE ‘DEMOCRATS ABROAD’ 300-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FUND ITS GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT. 

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PLEDGED TO END THE REQUIREMENT THAT AMERICANS LIVING OVERSEAS FILE A U-S TAX RETURN.

HOWEVER SOME HAVE QUESTIONED THE VALIDITY OF OVERSEAS VOTES, FILING LAWSUITS IN SWING STATES. 

FOR SAN I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

TO STAY UP TO DATE ON ELECTION NEWS, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND BE SURE TO CHECK THE BOX FOR U-S ELECTIONS SO YOU NEVER MISS AN UPDATE.