Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV submitted mail ballot in U.S. midterm election
The Holy See Press Office said Pope Leo XIV, a registered voter in Illinois, mailed his ballot for the October 3 midterm elections, marking the first time a pope has voted in a U.S. election.
The Vatican confirmed on Friday that Pope Leo XIV has mailed his ballot for the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, becoming the first pontiff to participate in an American vote. > "Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so. The Holy See Press Office confirms that in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago," the Vatican statement read.
The statement added that the pope has voted in previous elections, including when he resided in Peru, and emphasized his belief in the duty of citizens to engage in democratic processes. Chicago-born Pope Leo remains a registered voter in Illinois and requested a mail ballot through the Will County clerk’s office for the October 3 election, according to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff at the Will County clerk’s office, said Robert Francis Prevost is among those who requested a mail ballot. Records show Prevost has participated in multiple Republican and Democratic primaries and general elections since 2008.
Illinois law allows any registered voter to vote by mail, and U.S. citizens living abroad may do so under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker noted the pope’s voting on social media, encouraging others to exercise their voting rights.