Obama to Vote Absentee for Chicago Mayor

Chicago mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel casts his ballot Monday, Jan. 31, 2011, at a Chicago public library on the first day of early voting for the Feb. 22, 2011 mayoral election. (AP Photo/Chicago Sun-Times, Rich Hein)

White House aides say President Obama has applied for an absentee ballot to vote for mayor in his hometown of Chicago. Mr. Obama's application has been submitted to the Chicago Board of Elections.

The president's former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is the front-runner in the race.

Emanuel resigned from his White House post in October to move back to Chicago to run for mayor.

But his time spent in Washington led to challenges of his Chicago residency and his eligibility to become mayor. After a series of court rulings, Emanuel is eligible to run, and his name appears on the ballot.

Election Day for the mayoral primary is February 22nd, and early voting is already underway.

FOX News correspondent Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.