Pope Leo XIV has requested a mail-in ballot for the 2026 midterm elections in the United States, according to Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County clerk's office. The pope, who is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, remains a registered voter in Illinois under his birth name, Robert Francis Prevost.
The pope's voting history in the United States includes participation in both Democratic and Republican primaries, as well as general elections, although he has never disclosed his voting choices. The ballot requested by the pope will include several high-profile races, including the reelection bid of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the race to fill the seat of Senator Dick Durbin.
If the pope were to cast his ballot, it would mark a historic first for a pope voting in a secular election. The papacy has traditionally weighed in on secular politics, but popes have never directly participated in elections.