Sunita Williams to Vote in US Presidential Elections from Space

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and fellow NASA colleague Butch Wilmore, who is stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) and cannot make it to the polling stations for the 2024 US presidential elections, expressed eagerness to vote from space. Both astronauts reminded everyone that casting a vote is critical even from orbit.

Williams has already submitted their ballot requests from space, as they explained with a smile. "Looking forward to voting from space, which is pretty cool," he said. Wilmore also emphasized that it is their duty as "American citizens," declaring that "NASA makes it very easy for us to do that." The US elections in 2024 are set on November 5. Democrat Kamala Harris will face Republican Donald Trump in the elections. Williams and Wilmore are more than willing to run the course of the elections despite their longer stay in space at the ISS. The two astronauts left aboard the Boeing's Starliner June 5 with the spacecraft on its maiden crewed mission. Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, their stay has been stretched to eight months by technical malfunctions that bounced the Starliner back down to earth without them.

Commenting on being confined in space, the Indian-origin astronaut said in a video press conference, "That's how things go in this business." She said it wasn't "that hard" to transition to station life since both astronauts already had experience on the ISS. Asked about her extended mission at the ISS, Williams said, "This is my happy place. I love being up here in space."

While she and Wilmore have kept hopes within themselves, to actually bring the Starliner mission to fruition and land back on land at home, as she said, "you know you have to turn the page and look at the next opportunity." And so, both astronauts stay hopeful while waiting for their return. Still working on scientific endeavors as well as in preparation to vote in the 2024 presidential election from space.