Astronauts to vote from space

2008-11-01 22:10

Washington - Two US astronauts who are soaring in orbit hundreds of kilometres from Earth will be able to vote in the US election on November 4, the US space agency Nasa said.

Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff, who are working aboard the International Space Station, are to vote by secure electronic ballot uplinked by Johnson Space Centre in Houston, according to Nasa.

Their votes will be submitted by secure link back to Earth, and recorded by local voting officials in Texas.

"Although we're a long way from home as we orbit more than 322 kilometres above our beautiful planet, we are exercising our constitutional right and privilege in casting our ballot this election day," said Fincke in a video recently posted on Nasa's website.

"If we can do it, so can you."

Astronauts can vote from space due to a 1997 bill passed by Texas legislators which set up the process. Nearly all US astronauts live in Houston, Nasa said.

The astronauts have not revealed for whom they intend to vote.

Democrat Barack Obama is facing off against Republican John McCain in the presidential race on November 4, when congressional voting also takes place.

- AFP