Pope Leo submitted mail ballot for midterm elections, Vatican confirms - USA Today

Pope Leo XIV, the Chicago native made leader of the Catholic Church in 2025, is voting in the upcoming midterm elections, the Vatican confirmed Friday, Oct. 30. 

"Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so. The Holy See Press Office confirms that in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago," the Vatican said in a statement Friday morning. "The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes."

The confirmation of the pope’s move to vote comes just days ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, which Republicans and Democrats say will be perhaps the most consequential in generations. 

Vatican confirmation of the pope’s vote follows reporting by The Chicago Sun-Times that the county clerk’s office of Will County, Illinois, had issued the pope, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, a mail-in ballot.

Will County officials have not yet returned requests for comment on issuing the pope a ballot.

According to the Vatican, the pope has long been a regular voter, including during his time in Peru, where his is also a citizen.

"The Holy Father has also confirmed that, during his years of residence in Peru, he exercised his right to vote whenever he was eligible to do so," the Vatican said.

Will County officials, according to the Sun-Times, said the pope made the request to vote by mail on Oct. 3.

Voting records show the pope is a regular Illinois voter, the Sun-Times reported. According to the news outlet, he voted in the 2012, 2014 and 2016 Republican primaries; the 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2024 general elections; and in the 2008 and 2010 Democratic primaries. Illinois voters do not have to register by party.