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Pope Leo XIV Requests Mail Ballot for Illinois Midterms
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, has requested a mail-in ballot for the Illinois midterm elections, becoming the first sitting pontiff to vote in a U.S. election.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, has requested a mail-in ballot for the upcoming Illinois midterm elections, according to the Will County clerk’s office. This marks the first time a sitting pope has voted in a U.S. general election, as Leo maintains his voter registration in Will County, Illinois, despite residing in Vatican City.
The Chicago-born pontiff, who was born as Robert Francis Prevost, has a history of civic engagement. Since 2000, he has voted in five primary elections, requesting Republican ballots three times, according to records held by the Illinois State Board of Elections. He has also participated in both major American political parties' primaries.
Leo XIV’s decision to vote in the upcoming election comes amid ongoing public disagreements between the Vatican and President Donald Trump. The pontiff has expressed his belief in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes, according to the Holy See Press Office.
The pope’s request for a mail ballot was made on October 3, approximately one month before Election Day. He will be able to cast his vote in two major statewide contests: the race for the Senate seat being vacated by Dick Durbin and the gubernatorial election, in which Democrat JB Pritzker is seeking re-election.
Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County clerk’s office, confirmed that Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election. 'Since he did not renounce his U.S. citizenship when he became pope, he will remain eligible to vote in the United States so long as he chooses according to U.S. law,' she added.
The Chicago Sun-Times independently confirmed the request with the clerk’s office in a report published Thursday. The Sun-Times cited voting records showing that the future pope had voted in several previous elections, including Republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016, and general elections in 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024.
In Illinois, voters do not have to register with a political party in advance, allowing Pope Leo XIV to exercise his democratic right as a U.S. citizen. The Holy See Press Office noted that the pontiff has also confirmed exercising his right to vote during his years of residence in Peru whenever he was eligible to do so.
The pope’s brother, John Prevost, joined approximately 50 parishioners from St. Jude Catholic Church in New Lenox who met Pope Leo in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday. John Prevost was in Rome this week and confirmed the request for a mail ballot.
What this adds
It is unclear how Pope Leo XIV will return the mail-in ballot from the Vatican.
What's confirmed
- Pope Leo XIV, who is registered to vote in the US state of Illinois, has requested a mail-in ballot for the upcoming US congressional midterm elections.
- Pope Leo XIV has cast his ballot in the U.S. midterm elections while expressing his “belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the Holy See Press Office announced Friday.
- “Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so,” according to the Holy See statement.
What's still developing
- Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.