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News Analysis · October 30, 2026

Pope Leo XIV Submits Mail-In Ballot in Chicago Ahead of U.S. Election

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By Radical Reading Room Newsroom · Published · From the October 30, 2026 edition

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Published by: HuffPost

Pope Leo XIV Becomes First Pope To Vote In A U.S. General Election - HuffPost — Read the exact original

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Correction: October 30, 2026: Corrected article #11421. The initial report reversed the pope's name history, calling Robert Prevost formerly Pope Leo XIV, and erroneously said voting records did not establish past general-election ballots. Illinois records actually document general-election ballots since 2000 except 2020 and 2022. The corrected report gives the proper name history and voting record, adds the Vatican's direct confirmation, and retains backups of the original text and audit. Its 185-word four-paragraph replacement passed 14 independently reopened sentence-evidence checks and a fresh unpaid local Qwen audit.

Corrections and clarifications

October 30, 2026: October 30, 2026: Corrected article #11421. The initial report reversed the pope's name history, calling Robert Prevost formerly Pope Leo XIV, and erroneously said voting records did not establish past general-election ballots. Illinois records actually document general-election ballots since 2000 except 2020 and 2022. The corrected report gives the proper name history and voting record, adds the Vatican's direct confirmation, and retains backups of the original text and audit. Its 185-word four-paragraph replacement passed 14 independently reopened sentence-evidence checks and a fresh unpaid local Qwen audit.

Vatican officials confirmed Friday that Pope Leo XIV submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. The Chicago-born pontiff, formerly Robert Prevost, is the first pope known to vote in a U.S. general election. The Holy See said citizens have a right and duty to participate in democratic processes.

Leo requested a ballot earlier in October, according to the Will County clerk's office, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Election records list him at an address in New Lenox, Illinois. The Vatican confirmed he submitted the ballot, although reporting has not established how it was returned.

Records from the Illinois State Board of Elections show Prevost requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010 while living in Cook County. After moving to Will County, he requested Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Illinois voters declare a party preference in primaries, but not in general elections.

Those records show Prevost submitted ballots in every general election since 2000 except 2020 and 2022. Election records do not disclose which candidates he supported. The Vatican said Leo voted while living in Peru whenever eligible.

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