Pope Leo XIV Casts First Papal Mail-In Ballot for U.S. Midterms
The American-born pontiff requested a ballot in Will County, Illinois, weeks before his recent health recovery and upcoming trip to South America.
By Nikolai Patterson ·
Pope Leo XIV became the first pope to vote in a U.S. election after casting a mail-in ballot for the November midterms. The Vatican confirmed the action Friday, noting that the American-born leader has consistently exercised his right to vote as a citizen whenever eligible.
The Holy See press office stated that the pope holds a strong belief in the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes. This vote marks a first for the papacy in the context of American elections.
The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the vote, citing the chief of staff at the Will County clerk's office. The pope is registered at an address in New Lenox and requested his ballot on Oct. 3. This request came just days before a recent period of recovery from illness, during which he has been resuming his activities at the Vatican.
Leo is preparing to travel to South America next month. Last month, he addressed a general audience in St. Peter's Square, urging the faithful to move past passivity toward current events. "We cannot remain as unengaged spectators; rather, we must listen with our hearts, allow ourselves to be challenged, and become involved," he said on Sept. 2, according to the Catholic News Service.
The pope has maintained a long history of civic engagement in the United States. During his nearly two decades as a missionary and then bishop in Peru, he voted whenever eligible while holding both U.S. and Peruvian citizenship.
Illinois State Board of Elections records show that Robert Prevost was previously registered to vote in Cook County. The Associated Press reports he voted in five primary elections since 2000. He selected Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2019 and Republican ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Illinois requires voters to declare a party preference for primaries, but not for general elections.
According to Illinois election records cited by the AP, the pope submitted ballots in every general election since 2000, with the exceptions of 2020 and 2022.
