Pope Leo XIV asks Will County for mail-in ballot
The first American-born pope requested a ballot for the Nov. 3 election, but the county clerk has not yet received the completed form.
By Pablo Serrano ·
Robert Francis Prevost, the first American-born pope, requested a mail-in ballot from the Will County Clerk’s Office earlier this month. The request aims to allow the pontiff to cast a vote in his home community during the upcoming general election.
Prevost has not traveled to the United States since his election to the papacy last year. Despite his distance, U.S. law permits him to retain his citizenship and voting eligibility because he did not renounce his status upon becoming pope.
A Vatican spokesperson confirmed the request to NBC News on Thursday, following a report by the Chicago Sun-Times. The confirmation clarifies that the process has begun, though the physical ballot has not yet returned to the county.
The chief of staff for the Will County Clerk’s Office stated that no completed ballot has been received from the Vatican yet. With the election scheduled for Nov. 3, the ballot must be postmarked by a specific deadline to be counted.
If Prevost submits the form in time, he would become the first pope in history to vote in a U.S. election. His participation would mark a notable step for the American-born leader, who has made several political statements regarding the United States since taking office.
Source: NBC Chicago
