US astronauts on space station vote in midterm elections
Three US astronauts aboard the International Space Station voted in the 3 November 2026 midterm elections. NASA astronaut Anil Menon showed on social media how he cast his Harris County, Texas ballot from orbit.
Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from Hindustan Times, The Guardian.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1NASA astronaut Anil Menon demonstrated on social media how he cast his ballot for Harris County in Texas from space. Al JazeeraLC “NASA astronaut Anil Menon demonstrated on social media how he cast his ballot for Harris County in Texas, from space.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Left · 1He was one of three US astronauts aboard the International Space Station who voted in the 3 November midterm elections. Al JazeeraLC “He was one of three US astronauts aboard the International Space Station who voted in the November 3 midterm elections.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Centre · 1Menon said all three US crew members had the privilege of voting from the space station. Anadolu AgencyN “‘All three US crew members had the privilege of voting from space station,’ says NASA astronaut Anil Menon” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1Hindustan Times named the other two astronauts as Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, and said all three sent electronic ballots to election officials in Harris County, Texas. Hindustan TimesN “Anil Menon, Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney filled out electronic ballots and sent them securely to election officials in Harris County, Texas.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Mixed · 2Menon posted a video on X showing his sleeping compartment, which he called his "voting booth", where he completed and submitted the ballot on a computer. Hindustan TimesN “showing how he voted from his sleeping compartment, which he called his "voting booth".” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ The GuardianLC “He said he filled out the ballot on his station computer” Read at The Guardian ↗ Centre · 1Hindustan Times said Harris County handles voting for many NASA astronauts because it is home to Johnson Space Center and Mission Control in Houston, and that a 1997 Texas law allows astronauts to vote from space. Hindustan TimesN “Texas passed a law in 1997 allowing astronauts to cast their ballots while on space missions.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Centre · 1Citing NASA, it described the route: astronauts request an absentee ballot with a Federal Post Card Application, then send the completed, encrypted ballot via the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System to a ground antenna at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, then to Johnson Space Center and the county clerk. Hindustan TimesN “The ballot travels through the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System to a ground antenna at NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1Menon arrived at the ISS in July 2026 on a Russian Soyuz; Watkins and Delaney joined on 1 October on SpaceX's Crew-13, and the three Americans live aboard with four crew members from Canada and Russia. Hindustan TimesN “Watkins and Delaney joined him on October 1 as part of SpaceX's Crew-13 mission.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Left · 1The Guardian ran a short video item with the same core facts, saying Menon's post said all three US crew members had the chance to vote. The GuardianLC “In a social media post, he said all three US crew members onboard also had the chance to vote.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Left · 1Al Jazeera's report, published in its video newsfeed on election day, headlined the story as US astronauts voting from space in the 2026 midterm elections. Al JazeeraLC “US astronauts vote from space in 2026 midterm elections” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu Agency, also reporting on election day, headlined the story as US astronauts casting midterm election ballots from space and led with Menon's remark about the privilege of voting. Anadolu AgencyN “US astronauts cast midterm election ballots from space”“‘All three US crew members had the privilege of voting from space station,’ says NASA astronaut Anil Menon” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Short video-news item that leads with Menon showing on social media how he voted for Harris County, Texas.
- Emphasis
- The demonstration of voting from orbit and Menon's Texas county.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not carry Menon's remark about the 'privilege' of voting; gives no detail on how ballots are transmitted.
- For example
-
“NASA astronaut Anil Menon demonstrated on social media how he cast his ballot for Harris County in Texas, from space.” — Al Jazeera
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Leads with Menon's quote that all three US crew members had the privilege of voting from the station.
- Emphasis
- Voting as a privilege shared by the whole US crew.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not name Menon's home county or describe how he voted.
- Charged language
- “privilege”
- For example
-
“‘All three US crew members had the privilege of voting from space station,’ says NASA astronaut Anil Menon” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Three US astronauts aboard the International Space Station voted in the 3 November 2026 midterm elections.
- Anil Menon, a NASA astronaut, voted from space and spoke about it.
-
All three US crew members on the ISS voted in the 2026 midterms.
Reported- Supports 1
- Hindustan Times
- Reports 2
- The Guardian, Anadolu Agency
-
Anil Menon cast an electronic ballot for Harris County, Texas from the ISS.
Reported- Supports 1
- Hindustan Times
- Reports 2
- Al Jazeera, The Guardian
Anil Menon person
Menon showed how he voted for Harris County, Texas, and said all three US crew members had the privilege of voting from the station.
“NASA astronaut Anil Menon demonstrated on social media how he cast his ballot for Harris County in Texas, from space.” — Al Jazeera
“‘All three US crew members had the privilege of voting from space station,’ says NASA astronaut Anil Menon” — Anadolu Agency
Left2 articles
-
US astronauts vote from space in 2026 midterm elections
Neutral Brief factual item centred on Menon's social media demonstration of voting for Harris County, Texas.
-
Nasa astronaut casts midterms vote from space – video
Neutral Brief video item leading with Menon's electronic ballot from the ISS.
Centre2 articles
-
US astronauts cast midterm election ballots from space
Sympathetic Leads with Menon's quote presenting voting from the station as a privilege.
-
3 NASA astronauts cast votes in US midterm elections from International Space Station
Neutral Explanatory piece on how astronauts vote from orbit, with NASA's process, the 1997 Texas law and crew background.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 3 Nov 21:03 First Al JazeeraLC US astronauts vote from space in 2026 midterm elections
- 3 Nov 21:03 First Anadolu AgencyN US astronauts cast midterm election ballots from space
- 3 Nov 22:03 +1h Hindustan TimesN 3 NASA astronauts cast votes in US midterm elections from International Space Station
- 3 Nov 22:23 +1h 20m The GuardianLC Nasa astronaut casts midterms vote from space – video
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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