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Vatican confirms Pope Leo submitted a mail-in midterm ballot

Pope Leo, a registered Illinois voter, requested a ballot Oct. 3, but the clerk's office has not received a completed ballot.

Updated Oct 30, 2026 · 14:16 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • The Vatican confirmed Pope Leo submitted a mail-in ballot ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.[CBS News]
  • Pope Leo, a registered Illinois voter, requested the ballot on Oct. 3, according to the Will County Clerk's Office.[NBC News]
  • The clerk's office says it has not received a completed ballot, and it is unclear whether he has mailed one.[NBC News]

Key facts

  • Pope Leo, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, requested a mail ballot at his Vatican City residence on Oct. 3, according to the Will County Clerk's Office.[NBC News]
  • Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County Clerk's Office, confirmed the ballot request to NBC News.[NBC News]
  • The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the ballot request.[NBC News]
  • The clerk's office told NBC News it has not yet received a completed ballot from the pope.[NBC News]
  • The Vatican confirmed that the pope submitted a mail-in ballot ahead of the midterm elections.[CBS News]

What remains uncertain

  • It is unclear whether Pope Leo has filled out or mailed his ballot, and the Vatican's submission account conflicts with the clerk's report that no completed ballot has arrived.[CBS News · NBC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.