Pope Leo XIV Becomes the First Pope to Vote in a U.S. Election, Casting a Mail Ballot for the Midterms
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, has submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago for Tuesday's midterm elections — the first time a sitting pope has voted in a U.S. election.
Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope to vote in a U.S. general election. The Vatican press office said on Friday that the Chicago-born pontiff submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, Reuters and the Associated Press reported — a historic first for the American-born pope, who leads the Roman Catholic Church's 1.4 billion members.
The Vatican said Leo has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen whenever he was eligible to do so, including during his years of residence in Peru. In its statement, the Holy See said that in keeping with that long-standing practice of civic participation, he submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago, and that the Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes. The Vatican did not say which candidates he voted for.
Leo, 71, was born in Chicago and is registered to vote in Illinois under his birth name, Robert Francis Prevost. He requested a ballot on Oct. 3, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, citing the Will County Clerk's office. Leo was elected in May 2025 as the first American-born pope. His ballot joins the more than 4.9 million already cast in Florida alone, as Fort Myers and Lee County voters finish the same election this weekend and on Tuesday.
