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Pope Leo XIV Seeks US Election Ballot, Poised to Become First Sitting Pontiff to Vote in America
Pope Leo XIV Seeks US Election Ballot, Poised to Become First Sitting Pontiff to Vote in America
Pope Leo XIV has requested a mail-in ballot for the November 3, 2026 US midterm elections, according to election officials in Illinois.
The pontiff, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, remains registered to vote in Will County despite becoming head of the Catholic Church.
His participation would make him the first sitting pope known to have voted in a United States election.
The request comes nearly 18 months after his election as pope, making him the first American-born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.
October 30, () – Pope Leo XIV could make history in the November 3 United States midterm elections after requesting a mail-in ballot in Illinois, potentially becoming the first sitting pontiff known to have participated in an American election.
The Will County Clerk’s Office in Illinois confirmed that the 70-year-old pontiff, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, is among registered voters who requested mail-in ballots ahead of the election.
Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff at the county clerk’s office, confirmed the request to the Chicago Sun-Times, saying Prevost’s name appeared on the list of individuals who applied to vote by mail.
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According to the report, the pope submitted his request on October 3, with the ballot intended for him at his registered address in New Lenox, Illinois.
However, the clerk’s office had not received his completed ballot as of Thursday, October 29, leaving it uncertain whether he had filled it out or returned it to election officials.
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A separate report by NBC News, cited by Forbes and other media organisations, also confirmed that election officials were yet to receive the ballot.
If he completes the process and his vote is accepted, Leo would become the first sitting pope known to have voted in a United States election.
Why The Pope is Eligible to Vote
Although Pope Leo XIV has lived in Vatican City since he was elected head of the Catholic Church in May 2025, he retains his United States citizenship and remains registered to vote in Illinois.
Born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, Prevost spent much of his early life in the United States before joining the Augustinian religious order and embarking on missionary and ecclesiastical assignments in Peru.
He subsequently held several positions within the Catholic Church, including leadership roles in the Augustinian order and the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, before his election as pope.
His election on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, made him the first American-born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.
His voter registration in Illinois has remained active despite his relocation to the Vatican.
Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections, explained that registered voters in the state could vote by mail without providing a specific reason.
He also noted that the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) provides voting arrangements for eligible American citizens living abroad, including those residing outside the country.
The provisions allow eligible overseas voters to participate in elections in their home states even when they are unable to return to the United States to cast their ballots in person.
Pope’s Previous Voting Record
Records cited by the Chicago Sun-Times indicate that Leo participated in several United States elections before becoming pope.
Under his birth name, Prevost reportedly voted in the Democratic presidential primary in 2008 and the party’s 2010 primary elections.
He subsequently participated in Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016, as well as the general elections of 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2024.
His participation in primaries organised by both major political parties reflects Illinois’ voting system, which does not require voters to register formally with a political party before choosing which party’s primary ballot to use.
The records also indicate that he participated in the 2024 general election, before his election as pontiff.
However, he did not vote in Illinois’ March 2026 primary election.
His latest ballot request would mark a potential continuation of his participation in American electoral processes, this time while serving as leader of the world’s Catholic population.
November 3 Election And What Is at Stake
The November 3 midterm elections will determine several federal, state, and local political offices across the United States.
In Illinois, voters will elect a governor, a United States senator and members of the House of Representatives, alongside other state and local officeholders.
The elections will also feature contests for positions in the Illinois General Assembly and various county and judicial offices.
According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, registered voters can request mail-in ballots without stating a reason, while eligible overseas citizens can also participate through the applicable federal voting arrangements.
The Will County Clerk’s Office is responsible for administering elections in the county where the pope remains registered.
While the ballot request has been confirmed, the election authorities have not disclosed whether Leo has completed and returned it.
The Vatican has also not publicly commented on the reported request.
The development has attracted international attention because no sitting pope is known to have participated in a United States election since the establishment of the papacy.
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