Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope to vote in a U.S. general election, the Vatican confirmed Friday. The pontiff, who was born in Chicago, submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the November midterm elections.
The Holy See press office stated that Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, "has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen" and has done so "whenever he was eligible to do so." The statement also noted that he had previously voted while living in Peru whenever eligible.
"The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes," the Vatican said.
The Chicago Sun-Times initially reported Leo's vote, quoting an official from the Will County clerk’s office who said the pope, registered at an address in New Lenox, Illinois, requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3.
Details on how Leo returned the ballot were not immediately clear. His brother, John Prevost, was reportedly in Rome accompanying parishioners from St. Jude’s, an Augustinian-run parish in New Lenox, where Robert Prevost, as a cardinal, gave a talk in 2024. The elder Prevost also attends Mass at the parish.
Election records from the Illinois State Board of Elections indicate that Robert Prevost has voted in five primary elections since 2000. He requested Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2010, and Republican ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016. While Illinois primary voters must declare a party preference, no such declaration is required for general elections.
Records also show that he cast ballots in every general election from 2000 up to, but not including, 2020 and 2022.