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Pope Leo XIV Casts Mail-In Ballot in Midterms

The pontiff, a registered Illinois voter, is the first pope to vote in a U.S. election, according to the extraction.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single tall ballot box silhouette against a cream field, evoking civic participation in a U.S. election.
Pope Leo XIV mailed his ballot from Vatican City to Illinois, where he is a registered voter, ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in the 2026 midterm elections, sending it over the weekend to Illinois, where he is a registered voter. The Vatican confirmed the pontiff's vote ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.

Why it matters

The vote marks the first time a pope has voted in a U.S. election, drawing attention to the participation of a registered Illinois voter from abroad. It also highlights how mail-in ballots allow voters outside the country to take part in midterm contests.

The pontiff's ballot is a mail-in vote from Vatican City, with his prior participation spanning four general election cycles. Details of the ballot's processing timeline were not provided in the source.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, is the head of the Catholic Church who took office in May 2025 and leads the Vatican.

The details

Pope Leo XIV, also known as Robert Prevost, became Pope in May 2025 and mailed his ballot to Illinois from Vatican City over the weekend. Voters in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, were also casting ballots at drop boxes as the midterms approached.

Timeline

  1. May 2025: Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV.

  2. 2012, 2014, 2018, 2024: Pope Leo XIV cast ballots in general elections.

  3. Weekend before Nov. 2, 2026: Pope Leo XIV mailed his ballot to Illinois.

  4. Nov. 3, 2026: Midterm elections are held; Pennsylvania polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM.

Election Participation

The pontiff's 2026 mail-in ballot continues a record of voting in general elections stretching back to 2012, placing this midterm vote within that established pattern. It is the first time he has cast a ballot in a U.S. election as Pope.

Voters can still follow the Nov. 3 midterm timeline, with Pennsylvania in-person polls open 7 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday. Mail-in ballots from registered voters, including those abroad, are part of the national process.

The takeaway

The pontiff's vote shows that mail-in ballots let registered U.S. voters take part in midterm elections even from outside the country. Voters who want to participate should confirm their registration and ballot deadlines in their state.

Further reading

For more on how votes are cast and counted, see our Elections coverage.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WOLF.

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