Pope Leo XIV Casts Illinois Mail Ballot as First Pontiff to Vote in U.S. Election

The Vatican press office confirmed on Oct. 30 that Pope Leo XIV has submitted a mail-in ballot for the Illinois midterm elections, marking the first time a sitting pope has voted in a U.S. election. The confirmation came via a statement released that same day, noting that the pontiff exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen whenever he was eligible.

The Holy See stated that the pope submitted his ballot in Chicago in keeping with a long-standing practice of civic participation. The statement emphasized that the Holy Father believes in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes. By voting, the Vatican said, the pope sets an example that encourages other citizens to exercise their civic responsibilities.

Pope Leo retains dual citizenship in the United States and Peru. He previously voted in eligible elections during his years of residence in Peru. According to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times on Oct. 29, a county official said the pope requested his mail ballot on Oct. 3. The Sun-Times verified this request with Kim Fladhammer, the chief of staff for the Will County, Illinois, clerk’s office. Fladhammer confirmed that Robert Francis Prevost, the pope’s name before his election to the papacy, appeared on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election.

Voting records obtained by the Sun-Times indicate that Prevost has a history of participating in Illinois elections. He voted in the Republican primaries of 2012, 2014, and 2016, as well as the Democratic primaries of 2008 and 2010. He also cast ballots in the general elections of 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024. However, records show he did not vote in the state’s primary election held in March of this year. The newspaper noted that Illinois voters are not required to register by party and may choose their primary ballot affiliation at the time of voting. All registered voters in the state have the option to vote by mail.

The pope is registered at an address in New Lenox, Illinois, a suburban Chicago town where his elder brother John resides. NBC News’ Chicago affiliate confirmed with the county clerk’s chief of staff that the pope’s ballot had not yet been received as of Oct. 29. The Will County ballot includes races for the U.S. Senate and governor, along with several county and judicial positions.

Chieko Noguchi, executive director of public affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement on Oct. 30. She said that in voting, the pope sets an example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility. Noguchi added that the USCCB has been encouraging Catholics to exercise their right to vote in a way that places faith before politics. The bishops have exhorted Catholics to inform their conscience as they prepare to vote and to uphold human dignity and the common good.

In April, Pope Leo addressed participants at a plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. He spoke about authentic democracy, describing it as a system that recognizes the dignity of every person and calls citizens to participate responsibly in the pursuit of the common good. He cited St. John Paul II, who affirmed that the Church values democracy because it ensures participation in political choices. The pope quoted St. John Paul’s 1991 encyclical Centesimus Annus, noting that democracy offers people the possibility of electing and holding accountable those who govern them, and of replacing them through peaceful means when appropriate. He concluded that democracy remains healthy only when rooted in moral law and a true vision of the human person.