Pope Leo XIV Requests Mail Ballot for Illinois Midterm Election

Pope Leo XIV has requested a mail ballot for the upcoming Illinois midterm election on November 3. This move could make him the first pope to participate in a secular election while serving as pontiff. According to the Will County Clerk’s Office, the pope, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, requested a vote-by-mail ballot on October 3. He remains a registered voter at his New Lenox, Illinois address, despite his leadership of 1.4 billion Catholics from Vatican City. It remains unclear if the ballot has been returned yet.

Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election, said Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County Clerk’s Office, in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times.

Over 20 million Americans and 1.16 million Illinois residents have already voted early. Under election law, any registered Illinois voter, including those living abroad, can vote by mail.

What Races Are on the Pope’s Ballot?

The pope’s ballot is expected to include several key races. These include the Illinois U.S. Senate race to replace the retiring Senator Dick Durbin, the reelection effort of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and various other Will County contests. Public records show that Leo has participated in both Republican and Democratic primaries in Illinois over the years. These include Democratic primaries in 2008 and 2010, and Republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Illinois does not require voters to register with a political party, allowing for flexibility in voting. Leo voted in several general elections, including 2024, and this will be his first major election since becoming pope last year.

Tension Between the Pope and President Donald Trump

Leo, the first American-born pope, has experienced conflicts with President Donald Trump and certain Republican officials, notably on issues of immigration policy and foreign affairs, particularly the war in Iran. Although the Vatican generally avoids direct involvement in U.S. electoral politics, tensions remain. In April, Trump labeled the pope as “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy”. The pontiff responded, stating he had “no fear” of the Trump administration. Leo has also denounced the conflict in the Middle East and criticized the “delusion of omnipotence” that instigated it, citing it as a cause of “absurd and inhuman violence.”

What We Know About Pope Leo’s Health

The pope requested his ballot shortly before undergoing surgery earlier this month to remove a cancerous part of his lung. According to the Vatican, Leo will not require additional cancer treatments. Final tests confirmed that the tumor was a localized lung adenocarcinoma. The pope’s personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, along with his surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, stated, “Today, the final histological examinations and molecular biology tests on the material removed during the Holy Father’s surgery were reported. The results confirmed that the tumor was a localized lung adenocarcinoma. A subsequent oncological evaluation confirmed that no further treatment is necessary.”