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Friday, 30th October 2026
Pope Leo XIV Makes History by Voting in US Midterm Elections Through Mail-In Ballot
31 October 2026 00:10 AM
NEWS DESK
Pope Leo XIV has made history by casting his vote through a mail-in ballot in the upcoming US midterm elections, becoming the first known pope to participate in a political election.
The Vatican confirmed on Friday that the American-born pontiff had submitted his ballot in Chicago, where he was born, ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The Holy See Press Office said Pope Leo XIV had exercised his voting rights as a US citizen whenever he was eligible to do so.
The Vatican also confirmed that the pontiff had voted during his years of residence in Peru, where he served as a missionary priest and bishop.
"The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes," the Vatican said in a statement.
The pope, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, requested a mail-in ballot on October 3, according to records from the Will County Clerk's Office in Illinois. He is registered at an address in New Lenox, Illinois.
His ballot will cover several important contests, including the Illinois Senate race to replace retiring Senator Dick Durbin and Governor JB Pritzker's re-election bid.
The Vatican's confirmation makes Pope Leo the first sitting pontiff known to have voted in a political election. He may also be the first pope in history to participate in a secular democratic election.
The development highlights the pontiff's longstanding support for civic participation and the democratic rights of citizens.
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