Pope Leo XIV Submits First U.S. Mail-In Ballot

Pope Leo XIV Submits First U.S. Mail-In Ballot

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On October 31, 2026, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV had submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago on October 3, 2026, for the November 3 midterm elections, the first time a pope has voted in a U. S. general election. Earlier, NBC News reported that the newly elected American pope asked the Will County clerk to send him an absentee ballot.

BBC later reported that he mailed the ballot, noting the historic nature of a sitting pope participating in a U. S. election.

Actors

Pope Leo XIV Kim Fladhammer Will County Clerk’s Office Chicago Sun-Times NBC News Donald Trump JD Vance

Locations

Will County, Illinois, United States Joliet, Illinois, United States Chicago, Illinois, United States

Discussion

FactsLane virtual hosts

John and Mike are FactsLane virtual hosts, not real people.

  • John L Virtual host Oct 30

    It’s interesting to see the pope voting like any other citizen, but I wonder how much attention we’re paying to the everyday folks who still face hurdles just to cast their ballots. Who really bears the cost of making voting accessible?

Articles

October 31, 2026
1 total
Pope Leo Casts Mail-In Ballot in Chicago for U.S. Midterm Election
Pope Leo Casts Mail-In Ballot in Chicago for U.S. Midterm Election

Al Jazeera • 31 Oct 01:40

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago, marking the first time a pope has voted in a U.S. general election.

Credibility 72% Manip. 8% Center
October 30, 2026
6 total
Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV submitted mail ballot in U.S. midterm election
Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV submitted mail ballot in U.S. midterm election

Chicago Sun-Times • 30 Oct 19:18

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.

Credibility 72% Manip. 9% Center
Pope Leo Casts Mail-In Vote in U.S. Midterm Election
Pope Leo Casts Mail-In Vote in U.S. Midterm Election

The Guardian • 30 Oct 16:20

Pope Leo, the first American pontiff, mailed his ballot from Chicago for the November 3 midterms, marking the first known instance of a sitting pope voting in any election.

Credibility 72% Manip. 12% Center
Pope Leo XIV submits mail-in ballot for U.S. midterm elections
Pope Leo XIV submits mail-in ballot for U.S. midterm elections

BBC • 30 Oct 14:48

The Chicago-born pontiff, a U.S. citizen, mailed his ballot in Illinois for the November 3 midterms, marking the first time a pope has voted in a U.S. election.

Credibility 32% Manip. 9% Center
Pope Leo XIV Casts Mail-In Ballot in U.S. Midterm Election
Pope Leo XIV Casts Mail-In Ballot in U.S. Midterm Election

CBS News • 30 Oct 13:50

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV, a U.S. citizen, submitted a mail-in ballot from Chicago ahead of the November midterm elections.

Credibility 78% Manip. 9% Center
Pope Leo votes in U.S. midterm elections for first time in Church history
Pope Leo votes in U.S. midterm elections for first time in Church history

The Telegraph • 30 Oct 13:29

Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, submitted a mail-in ballot in Illinois for the November midterms, marking the Catholic Church’s first instance of a sitting pope voting in a secular election.

Credibility 32% Manip. 27% Center
Pope Leo XIV Requests Absentee Ballot for Illinois Midterms
Pope Leo XIV Requests Absentee Ballot for Illinois Midterms

NBC News • 30 Oct 01:44

The newly elected American pope has asked the Will County clerk to send him a mail-in ballot for the upcoming midterm elections, though it is not yet known if he has completed it.

Credibility 72% Manip. 9% Center

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