Full Breakdown
Pope Leo XIV Seeks Mail Ballot for Upcoming Illinois Midterm Election
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event
Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost) has formally requested a mail-in ballot for the November Illinois election, where he remains a registered voter in Will County. The request was confirmed by the Will County Clerk’s Office, potentially making him the first pope in two-thousand years to cast a ballot in a U.S. election.
02
Background & Context
Prevost was elected pope in May 2025, the first American pontiff. Though he lives in Vatican City, he retains his Illinois registration at a New Lenox address belonging to his brother. Illinois law allows any registered voter to request a mail ballot; the “excuse” requirement was eliminated in 2010.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
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Data & Statistics
- Voting history in Will County includes participation in primaries and general elections from 2008 through 2024.
- The ballot request was made in early October and a sample ballot was mailed to his New Lenox precinct.
- The pope underwent lung-cancer surgery in mid-October, removing part of his right lung, and has resumed public duties.
04
Official Statements & Responses
Will County Clerk’s Office chief of staff Kim Fladhammer confirmed the pope’s name appears on the list of mail-ballot requesters. Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich explained that the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) extends mail-in voting rights to U.S. citizens abroad and that Illinois no longer distinguishes “absentee” ballots. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher noted the pope’s recent illness underscores his humanity and may affect his view of civic responsibilities.
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Criticism & Opposition
Former President Donald Trump dismissed the pope’s political engagement, saying, “I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo.” Vice President JD Vance warned the pope to be cautious when commenting on theological matters tied to U.S. foreign policy.
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Verbatim Quotes
- “Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election,” — Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff, Will County Clerk’s Office
- “There is no such thing as an absentee ballot in Illinois law anymore. So anyone can vote by mail if they so choose. There is also a law called UOCAVA, The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act that is mostly for the military, but it’s also for U.S. citizens who are overseas,” — Matt Dietrich, Illinois State Board of Elections
- “I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo,” — Donald Trump, former President
07
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
County officials have not confirmed whether the pope has completed and returned the mailed ballot; no completed ballot has been received yet.
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Why It Matters
If cast and counted, the pope’s vote would be an unprecedented instance of papal participation in a secular democratic process, highlighting the intersection of religious leadership and civic engagement and drawing attention to Illinois’ mail-in voting provisions for overseas citizens.
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What’s Next
The election is scheduled for early November. If the pope returns his ballot before the deadline, it will be counted with those of other Illinois voters in the midterm contests, including the U.S. Senate race and Governor J.B. Pritzker’s re-election bid.