Pope Leo XIV Casts First U.S. Presidential Vote

Pope Leo XIV became the first sitting pontiff to vote in a United States general election. The Vatican announced on Friday that the Chicago-born leader mailed his ballot from Illinois before the November midterm vote. Officials cited the pope’s strong belief in civic duty as the reason for his participation.

The Holy See press office stated that Leo, formerly known as Robert Prevost, exercised his right as a U.S. citizen. The office noted that he has voted whenever he was legally eligible. A spokesperson added that the pope expressed his conviction in the right and duty of citizens to engage in democratic processes.

Chicago Sun-Times reporter first reported the vote. The publication cited the chief of staff for the Will County Clerk’s Office. The office confirmed that the pope, registered at a New Lenox address, requested a mail-in ballot on October 3. It remains unclear exactly how he returned the completed ballot.

John Prevost, the pope’s brother, was in Rome this week with parishioners from St. Jude’s. This is an Augustinian parish in New Lenox, Illinois, where the elder Prevost attends Mass. Leo spoke at the parish in 2024 while still a cardinal.

Illinois election records show that Robert Prevost has voted in five primary elections since 2000. He requested Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2010. He requested Republican ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016. The records do not specify which candidates he supported.

Illinois voters must declare a party preference to receive a primary ballot. No such declaration is required for general elections. Prevost was registered in Cook County, a heavily Democratic area, for the 2008 and 2010 primaries. He later moved to the more conservative Will County suburb, where he requested Republican ballots for the subsequent primaries.

The records indicate that Prevost voted in every general election since 2000, with two exceptions. He did not cast a vote in the 2020 or 2022 general elections.