Pope Leo XIV Requests Mail-In Ballot for Illinois Midterms

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Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, has requested a mail-in ballot for the upcoming Illinois midterm elections, according to recent reports. The Holy Father, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, is still registered to vote in Illinois. The Will County clerk’s office confirmed that his name appears on the list of individuals requesting a vote by mail ballot.

Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County clerk’s office, told the Chicago Sun Times that Robert Francis Prevost is among those who have requested a mail-in ballot. The pope reportedly submitted his request on October 3, marking a new development in his voting participation in American elections.

Prevost has a history of voting in Illinois elections, including the 2012, 2014, and 2016 Republican primaries, as well as the 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections. He also voted in the 2008 and 2010 Democrat primaries. However, this is the first time he has requested a mail-in ballot, which is now the standard for all Illinois voters under current state law.

Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections, explained that Illinois no longer considers mail-in voting as absentee voting. Instead, any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot without needing an excuse. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) also allows U.S. citizens overseas to vote by mail, though it is primarily for military personnel.

Despite the request, it remains unclear whether the pope will actually cast a vote. According to NBC Chicago, the Clerk’s Office has not yet received a ballot from the Vatican, and time is running out to ensure the ballot is postmarked by the November 3 election deadline.

The Chicago Sun Times noted that since Pope Leo XIV did not renounce his U.S. citizenship upon becoming pope, he remains eligible to vote in the United States as long as he chooses to do so under U.S. law. This situation highlights the unique intersection of religious leadership and civic participation in American democracy.

Source: Breitbart

Written by

Connor Davis