Pope Leo XIV has voted by mail in Chicago ahead of November’s US midterm elections, the Vatican has confirmed, citing his belief in civic participation.
The Chicago-born pontiff, formerly Robert Prevost, “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen” whenever he has been eligible, the Holy See press office said.
It added that he had also voted while living in Peru when eligible. “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the statement said.
Leo’s ballot was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. The chief of staff at the Will County clerk’s office said the Pope, who is registered at an address in New Lenox, Illinois, requested a mail-in ballot on October 3.
It is not clear how the ballot was returned. The Pope’s brother, John Prevost, was in Rome this week accompanying parishioners from St Jude’s, an Augustinian-run parish in New Lenox.
The elder Prevost attends Mass at the parish, where Leo gave a talk in 2024 while he was still a cardinal.
Electoral records show that Robert Prevost has voted in five Illinois primary elections since 2000. He requested Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times.
Illinois voters must declare a party preference to receive a ballot in a primary, when parties select their nominees for the general election. No such declaration is required in general elections.
While registered in heavily Democratic Cook County, Prevost requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010. After moving to the more conservative suburban Will County, he requested Republican ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
The records also show that he submitted ballots in every general election since 2000 except those held in 2020 and 2022.
