Pope Leo XIV Casts First Papal Vote in U.S. Midterm Elections

Pope Leo XIV became the first sitting pontiff to vote in a U.S. general election. The Vatican announced on Friday that the pope, who was born in Chicago, mailed his ballot before the November midterm election. The Holy See cited his strong belief in civic participation as the reason for his involvement.

The pope’s press office stated that Leo, formerly known as Robert Prevost, has exercised his right to vote as a U.S. citizen whenever he has been eligible. The statement noted that he also voted while residing in Peru during times when he qualified to do so. The office added that the pope views participation in democratic processes as both a right and a duty for citizens.

Chicago media outlets first reported the details of the vote, citing records from the Will County clerk’s office. Prevost is registered at an address in New Lenox. He requested a mail-in ballot on October 3. It is not yet clear how the completed ballot was returned to officials. His brother, John Prevost, was in Rome this week accompanying parishioners from St. Jude’s, an Augustinian parish in New Lenox where Leo has attended Mass and given talks.

Illinois election records show that Robert Prevost has voted in five primary elections since 2000. He requested Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2010 while living in Cook County. After moving to the more suburban Will County, he requested Republican ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Illinois requires voters to declare a party preference to receive a ballot in primary elections, but no such declaration is needed for general elections.

The records indicate that Prevost voted in every general election from 2000 to 2024, with the exception of 2020 and 2022. The files do not specify which candidates he supported. The switch in party preference for primary ballots coincided with his geographic move from the heavily Democratic Cook County to the more conservative Will County.