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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, marking the first time a sitting pontiff has voted in a U.S. election.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, has requested a mail-in ballot for the Illinois midterm elections, according to the Will County clerk’s office in New Lenox, Illinois.
The Chicago-born pontiff, who became pope in May 2025, is registered to vote in New Lenox, a suburb of Chicago, despite residing in Vatican City.
Leo XIV’s request for a mail ballot was made on October 3, approximately one month before the election. The Holy See Press Office confirmed that the pope has cast his ballot, emphasizing his belief in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.
The pope’s voting history shows he has participated in several elections, including primary and general elections, both as a resident of the United States and while living abroad.
The Illinois State Board of Elections records indicate that Leo XIV has voted in five primary elections since 2000, requesting Republican ballots three times.
In Illinois, voters do not have to register with a political party in advance, allowing the pope to request a mail ballot without specifying a party.
The pope’s decision to vote in the Illinois midterm elections comes amid ongoing public disagreements between the Vatican and President Donald Trump.
The pope’s brother, John Prevost, confirmed that the pope had requested the mail ballot and that it was sent to his registered address in New Lenox.
What this adds
The pope's voting in the Illinois midterm elections marks a historic first for the Catholic Church, as no sitting pontiff has previously voted in a secular election.
The exact method by which the pope returned his mail-in ballot from Vatican City remains unclear.
The pope's voting history and his decision to vote in the Illinois midterm elections highlight his continued engagement with U.S. civic life despite his role as the leader of the Catholic Church.
Background
Chicago native Pope Leo XIV has cast a mail-in ballot in the upcoming US midterm elections, marking the first time a pontiff has voted in a US election.
Chicago native Pope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a US midterm election, submitting a mail-in ballot from Vatican City.
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 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.
- In Illinois, voters do not have to register with a political party in advance.
- (OSV News) — Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV requested a mail ballot for the Illinois midterm elections, according to a county official.
- If he returns the ballot, Pope Leo would become the first known sitting pontiff to cast a vote in a country’s civil election, according to Letters from Leo.
What's still developing
- John Prevost was in Rome this week and joined approximately 50 parishioners from St. Jude Catholic Church in New Lenox who met Pope Leo in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday.
Sources
- AzerNews link
- Breitbart News link
- International Business Times UK link
- La Voce di New York link
- NBC News link
- OSV News link
- Peoples Gazette Nigeria link
- The Journal link
- The Tablet Catholic Newspaper link
- Vermont Daily Chronicle link
- aleteia.org link
- Thenews link
- Italiareportusa link
- Fox56 link
- OSV News link
- BBC link