Pope Leo XIV Mails US Midterm Ballot

Pope Leo XIV has submitted a mail-in ballot for the November midterm elections, becoming the first pope known to vote in a U.S. contest. The Vatican confirmed the development on Friday, stating that the pontiff exercised his right to vote as a U.S. citizen.

The Holy See press office said the Chicago-born pope, formerly Robert Prevost, has voted whenever he was eligible to do so, including while living in Peru. Records cited by CNN show he remains a U.S. citizen and is registered to vote in New Lenox, Illinois, where his brother, John Prevost, lives.

The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the ballot request, quoting the chief of staff at the Will County clerk's office as saying the registration is at a New Lenox address and the request was made on Oct. 3. The method by which the pope returned the ballot remains unclear. His brother was in Rome this week accompanying parishioners from St. Jude's, an Augustinian-run parish in New Lenox.

Records held by the Illinois State Board of Elections show that Robert Prevost has participated in five primary elections since 2000, requesting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times. The records do not indicate which candidates he supported. Illinois voters must declare a party preference to receive a primary ballot, while no declaration is required for general elections.

The documents show he requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010 while registered in Cook County. After moving to Will County, he requested Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016. The records also indicate he cast ballots in every general election since 2000, except in 2020 and 2022.

The Holy Father has previously addressed the topic of civic involvement, with the press office stating he believes in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes. He addressed St. Jude's parish in 2024 while still serving as a cardinal.