Pope Leo XIV about to become first sitting pope to participate in US elections after he reportedly requests his Illinois mail-in ballot

Pope Leo XIV has reportedly requested a mail-in ballot for the upcoming midterm elections. He could become the first sitting pope to vote in the US elections.

In May 2025, Pope Leo XIV, whose real name is Robert Francis Prevost, became the first pope from the United States. Chicago Sun-Times has now reported that he requested a mail-in ballot on October 3. He is still a registered voter in Illinois and could vote in the upcoming elections.

Kim Fladhammer, Will County clerk’s office chief of staff, confirmed the news, saying:

“Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election.”

Notably, voters don't have to register by party. As per the aforementioned report, Pope Leo XIV voted in the general elections in 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024. He also voted for the Republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016. In 2008 and 2010, he voted in the Democratic primaries.

Matt Dietrich, spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Elections, explained:

"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..."

"Any Illinois registered voter can vote by mail. Until 2010, it was considered absentee, and you had to have an excuse. But that’s all gone away. So that’s obviously what he’s doing,” he added.

The Pope will be choosing between Democratic Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy, among others, for the US Senate from Illinois.

Also Read: Who are Pope Leo XIV's siblings? Trump says the Pope's brother is a MAGA supporter as he reacts to the Holy Father's cancer diagnosis

Pope Leo XIV and Donald Trump have clashed online on various topics

Pope Leo XIV has been vocal about his stance on various topics, often speaking against AI (Artificial Intelligence) and the Iran war, among other things. He also criticized the US and Israel's attacks on Iran earlier this year.

This led to the US President, Donald Trump, slamming the Pope in multiple posts on Truth Social. In April, he wrote:

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about “fear” of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart."

He added that Prevost should be "thankful" because he wouldn't have been the Pope had Trump not been in the White House. Pope Leo XIV, meanwhile, responded to this post, telling reporters (via NBC News):

“I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do.”

He added that while he wasn't a politician, he believed in the "message of the gospel, as a peacemaker."

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