WORLD · QUICK Q&A
A Pope Just Voted in an American Election for the First Time. Who Did He Pick?
The Vatican confirmed Friday that Pope Leo XIV submitted an Illinois mail ballot, the first pope to vote in an American election. How he can vote, whether the ballot has arrived, and what we do not know.
Transcript of the video edition
For the first time, a pope has voted in an American election. The Vatican confirmed his ballot Friday. So who did Leo pick?
How can he vote? Born in Chicago, he is still an American citizen registered in Illinois, and he asked for his ballot October third.
Did it arrive? As of Thursday, the county clerk’s office said no completed ballot had arrived. The Vatican says he submitted it.
He also leads a foreign state and has clashed with Trump, who called him weak. But federal law lets citizens abroad vote, even those working for foreign governments.
So who did he pick? The Vatican has not said. Records show only that he took both parties’ primary ballots.
Sources
- BBC News, Oct 30, 2026: Pope Leo submits mail-in ballot (Vatican statement, first pope to vote, Chicago-born, Oct. 3 request)
- NBC News, Oct 30, 2026: Pope Leo requested absentee ballot in Illinois (registered voter, Oct. 3 request, clerk’s office had not received completed ballot, clash with Trump)
- AP via Yahoo, Oct 30, 2026: Leo XIV first pontiff to vote in a general election (head of a foreign state, federal law on citizens abroad, unclear how ballot was returned, primary ballots)
- OSV News, Oct 30, 2026: Vatican confirms Pope Leo voted by mail (Vatican statement text, clerk’s office had not received ballot as of Oct. 29, primaries)
- CBC News, Oct 30, 2026: Pope Leo votes in midterms (records do not show candidates, Democratic ballots twice and Republican three times, Trump’s ‘weak’ remark)
This video edition was scripted with automated tools from the sources listed, narrated by a synthetic voice and published by Daniel Varrone. Corrections: editor@monochromechronicles.com