Pope Leo XIV Votes in U.S. Midterms, First Pontiff to Do So
The Chicago-born leader submitted a mail-in ballot in Illinois, continuing a voting record that spans both major political parties.
By Fatou Kim ·
Pope Leo XIV cast a vote in the November U.S. midterm elections on Friday, becoming the first pope in history to participate in a American general election. The Vatican confirmed the news via a statement from the Holy See press office.
The pontiff, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, submitted a mail-in ballot from Chicago. The Vatican said he exercised his rights as a United States citizen and has voted whenever eligible. The statement noted that Prevost also voted while residing in Peru.
A quote from the press office emphasized that the Holy Father believes in the right and duty of citizens to join democratic processes. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the vote, citing the chief of staff at the Will County clerk’s office.
Records show Prevost requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3. He is registered at a New Lenox address in Illinois. It is not yet clear how he returned the completed ballot. His brother, John Prevost, was in Rome this week with a group from St. Jude’s Parish in New Lenox.
Illinois State Board of Elections data reveals Prevost voted in five primary elections since 2000. He requested Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times. The records do not list specific candidate choices, but they track party preferences required for primary participation.
While registered in Cook County, Prevost chose Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010. After moving to Will County, a more conservative suburb, he requested Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016. The data also shows he voted in every general election since 2000, with the exception of 2020 and 2022.
The voting history underscores a consistent engagement with the electoral process despite his global role. The Vatican’s confirmation marks a first for the papacy in the context of U.S. national politics.
