Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in Will County, Illinois

Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope to vote in a United States general election. The Vatican confirmed on Friday that the pontiff, who was born in Chicago, mailed his ballot in the city before the November midterms. The Holy See’s press office stated that Leo exercised his right to vote as a U.S. citizen whenever he has been eligible.

The vote was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, which cited the chief of staff of Will County’s secretary of state office. According to that report, Leo, registered at an address in New Lenox, requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3. It is not yet clear how he returned the completed form. His brother, John Prevost, was in Rome this week accompanying parishioners from St. Jude’s, an Augustinian parish in New Lenox where Leo has attended Mass and gave a talk in 2024 while still a cardinal.

Illinois election records show that Robert Prevost, Leo’s pre-papal name, has voted in five primary elections since 2000. He requested Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2010, and Republican ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016. The shift in requested party affiliation coincided with his move from heavily Democratic Cook County to the more conservative suburban Will County. The records do not specify which candidates he supported.

Illinois law requires voters to declare a party preference to receive a primary ballot, but no such declaration is needed for general elections. Prevost has cast ballots in every general election since 2000, with the exceptions of 2020 and 2022. The Vatican’s statement emphasized the pope’s belief in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.

The pontiff’s voting history extends to his time living in Peru, where he also voted whenever eligible. His civic participation in Illinois dates back to his early years in the state. The Will County records provide a documented trail of his engagement with local elections over more than two decades.

The next scheduled vote for Leo will be the November general election in Illinois. Voters in Will County will cast ballots for federal and state offices. The outcome of this election will determine the composition of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate seats up for election this cycle.