Pope Leo XIV has requested a mail-in ballot from his residence in Vatican City to participate in next week’s midterm elections, setting up a historic moment as the first American pontiff to vote in a United States election.
Ballot Request and Local Status in Illinois
The pope, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, formally requested the ballot on October 3, according to Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County Clerk’s Office. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the ballot request, which was subsequently confirmed to NBC News.
Election officials in Will County reported that the completed ballot had not yet been returned as of Thursday. Because of this, it remains unclear whether the pontiff has filled out or mailed the document since requesting it. If completed and mailed back, the ballot is designated to arrive in Joliet, Illinois, where he maintains his voter registration.
Leo underwent lung cancer surgery earlier this month, adding logistical questions to his participation. By virtue of his election in May 2025 as the first American pope, any ballot he casts marks an unprecedented instance in the history of the papacy.
Voting Record and Electoral Context
Public voting records demonstrate that Leo is a registered voter who has participated in multiple prior U.S. contests. He cast ballots in the 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections, alongside participation in Republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Under Illinois election law, voters do not register with a specific political party and retain the ability to select whichever party primary ballot they prefer during each election cycle.
The ballot awaiting the pope features a slate of solidly Democratic races in his home jurisdiction. His congressional representative is Democratic Congressman Jonathan Jackson, the son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and brother of former Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., who is running for re-election. In statewide contests, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is the Democratic nominee seeking to succeed retiring U.S. Dick Durbin, while JB Pritzker is running for a third term.
Diplomatic Friction With the White House
The voting development intersects with ongoing diplomatic friction between the Vatican and the administration of President Donald Trump. Since ascending to the papacy, Leo has emerged as a vocal critic of specific administration policies, notably opposing the U.S. military involvement against Iran and the federal handling of immigrants.
Tensions escalated in April following public appeals from the pope for peace in the conflict that commenced with U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. President Trump responded on social media by labeling the pontiff as weak on crime and detrimental to foreign policy, while simultaneously taking credit for his rise to the papacy. In an interview with NBC News addressing those remarks, Leo stated that he held no fear of the administration and pledged to continue advocating for international peace.
Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, also directed public criticism toward the pontiff, asserting that Leo should exercise caution when addressing theological matters and rebuking his commentary on American foreign policy.
