Pope Leo XIV Casts Historic Mail-In Ballot in U.S. Midterm Election

On October 30, 2026 the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago for the November 3, 2026 U.S. midterm elections. The pope, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, remains a registered voter in Will County, Illinois, and requested the ballot on October 3, 2026. His vote marks the first time a sitting pontiff has participated in a U.S. secular election.

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Leo XIV was elected head of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, becoming the first American-born pope. He holds U.S. and Peruvian citizenship and has voted in American elections while living abroad. In early October 2026 the pope underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung; pathology confirmed a localized lung adenocarcinoma on October 13, 2026. He was discharged on October 17, 2026 and has since resumed public duties.

TMZ

• Illinois records show Prevost voted in five primaries since 2000 and in every general election from 2000 through 2018 and again in 2024.

WISN - Milwaukee News

• The 2026 Illinois ballot includes the U.S. Senate seat, the gubernatorial race, and various county and judicial contests.

Chicago Sun-Times

• The pope’s request was filed under a New Lenox address, where his brother John Prevost lives.

Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a US election

Will County Clerk’s Office chief of staff Kim Fladhammer confirmed the ballot request on October 3, 2026 and noted that the pope appears on the list of individuals who requested a vote-by-mail ballot.

Pope Leo becomes first pope in 2,000 years to vote in US election

Some outlets reported that the Will County clerk’s office had not yet received the completed ballot as of October 30, 2026, leaving the method of return unclear. Other sources indicated the ballot had been mailed from the Vatican but provided no confirmation of its arrival. Illinois law does not require disclosure of a voter’s candidate preferences.

Newsweek

• “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, elections spokesman

Chicago Sun-Times

• “I don't think he's doing a very good job,” — Donald Trump, U.S. president

BBC News

• “I’m happy he is participating in the voting process just as every eligible person should,” — County Clerk Annette Parker

Chicago Tribune

• “He believes in the power of democracy,” — Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich

Chicago Tribune