Summary
The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV, an American citizen born in Chicago, cast a mail-in ballot ahead of the November midterm elections. The pope has said citizens have a right and duty to take part in democratic processes.Key Facts
- The Vatican confirmed that Leo submitted a mail-in ballot in his native Chicago.
- The Will County clerk’s office said Leo, registered at a New Lenox address, requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3.
- Illinois election records show Leo voted in five primary elections since 2000: he requested Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times.
- The records show that Leo submitted a ballot in every general election since 2000 except 2020 and 2022.
- The records do not show which candidates Leo supported.
- In Illinois primary elections, voters declare a party preference to receive that party’s ballot; general-election voters do not have to declare a party preference.
- The pope is recovering from surgery for lung cancer and plans to travel to South America next month.
