For the first time a pope will cast a vote in a U.S. election, and he’s doing it from the Vatican.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV is the first pope to request an absentee ballot in a U.S. election.
- The Will County clerk has confirmed the request but has not yet received the completed ballot.
- Leo’s voting history shows participation in multiple past U.S. elections despite his papal duties.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, became the first American pope when he was elected in May 2025, and he has now asked the Will County, Illinois clerk for an absentee ballot to participate in next week’s midterm elections.
The request was filed on Oct. 3, a detail confirmed by Will County Clerk’s Office chief of staff Kim Fladhammer, and first reported by the Chicago Sun‑Times. The ballot must travel from Vatican City to Joliet, Illinois, and the clerk’s office has not yet received a completed ballot; Leo recently underwent lung‑cancer surgery.
Pope Leo's ballot request
As a U.S. citizen, Leo’s vote would be historic – he would be the first pope to vote in a U.S. election. Public records show he has voted in the 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2024 general elections and in Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Since his election, Leo has been outspoken on U.S. policy, criticizing former President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran, immigration and other issues. Trump responded on social media, calling the pope “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” to which Leo told NBC News he has “no fear of the Trump administration.”
Political backdrop and reactions
Vice President JD Vance, also a Catholic, warned Leo to be careful when commenting on theology and U.S. foreign policy. The Pope’s 2026 ballot includes races that heavily favor Democrats: Rep. Jonathan Jackson for the House, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton for the Senate, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s bid for a third term.
Illinois absentee voting for overseas citizens requires the ballot to be mailed to the voter’s residence—in this case, the Vatican—and then returned to the county clerk. The state does not require party registration, allowing voters to choose which primary to vote in each cycle.
What’s on the Pope’s Illinois ballot
The ballot’s arrival and counting remain pending, but the episode highlights the rare intersection of religious leadership and American electoral politics.
Reader questions
Can a pope vote in U.S. elections?
Yes. Pope Leo XIV is a U.S. citizen and, like any other citizen, can request an absentee ballot and cast a vote in federal, state or local elections.
How does absentee voting work for someone living in the Vatican?
Illinois sends the ballot to the voter’s listed residence abroad—in this case Vatican City—and the voter must return the completed ballot to the county clerk for it to be counted.
Has Pope Leo voted in previous U.S. elections?
Public records indicate he voted in the 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2024 general elections and in Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Source: nbcnews.com
