Pope Leo XIV Submits Mail-In Ballot in Illinois Midterm Elections, First Sitting Pontiff to Vote in a U.S. Election
What happened
Pope Leo XIV submitted an absentee mail-in ballot to Will County, Illinois, on October 30, 2026, marking the first time a sitting head of state of Vatican City has participated in a U.S. election.
The Context
* Dual-status precedent: Elected in May 2025 as the first American pontiff, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost maintains valid voter registration in Illinois alongside his U.S. citizenship. * Standard administrative route: The ballot was processed under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, covering general midterm contests including the Illinois gubernatorial race and congressional seats. * Documented voting history: State records confirm prior ballot submissions in the 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024 Illinois general elections prior to his relocation to Rome.
The Number
— The count of sitting popes in history to formally participate as registered voters in a United States electoral cycle.
Takeaway
County election officials will process the incoming absentee envelope using standard verification protocols ahead of the certified November vote tally.
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