Leo XIV becomes first pope to vote in a US general election

The Vatican confirmed on Friday that the Chicago-born pope had submitted his ballot in Chicago, exercising his rights as an American citizen ahead of the November 3 elections.

According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Leo had maintained the practice of voting whenever he was eligible, including during his years living in Peru.

"Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen whenever he was eligible to do so,” the Vatican said.

The announcement marks an unusual moment in the history of the papacy, with no previous pope known to have voted in a national election while serving as head of the Catholic Church.

The Vatican also used the announcement to highlight the importance of civic participation, with the pontiff encouraging eligible citizens to take part in democratic processes.

"The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the statement added.

The US midterm elections are held halfway through a president’s four-year term and determine which political party controls Congress, the country's legislative branch.

The November 3 vote will see all 435 seats in the House of Representatives contested, alongside 35 of the Senate's 100 seats. 

Voters in 36 states will also elect governors, while other state and local positions will be decided.

The Pope’s ballot features Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s re-election contest, the race to choose a successor to Senator Dick Durbin and a House election between Democratic Representative Jonathan Jackson and Republican Christian Maxwell.

Jackson, son of the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, secured a comfortable victory in his district in 2024.

Over the past two decades, Leo has participated in both Democratic and Republican primaries.

According to the Associated Press, he requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010 while residing in the heavily Democratic Cook County. 

After moving to the more conservative Will County, where he is currently registered, he began voting in Republican primaries in subsequent elections.

Records from the Will County clerk’s office also indicate that he has voted as an undeclared voter in some recent elections. 

His current party affiliation remains undeclared.