Politics
New Lenox, IL: Pope Leo Makes History With U.S. Election Ballot
New Lenox, IL – A historic moment in American election history has a surprising connection to Will County, where Pope Leo XIV remains registered to vote in New Lenox, Illinois, despite now leading the
By Paige Sullivan · 2026-10-30T13:37:51.535Z
New Lenox, IL – A historic moment in American election history has a surprising connection to Will County, where Pope Leo XIV remains registered to vote in New Lenox, Illinois, despite now leading the Roman Catholic Church from Vatican City.
According to an Associated Press report published Friday, October 30, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, submitted a mail in ballot ahead of the November 3 U.S. general election, becoming the first pope in history to vote in an American general election.
The Chicago born pontiff, who became the first American pope in 2025, has maintained voting ties to suburban Will County for years.
The Chicago Sun Times first reported the development, citing the Will County clerk 's office, which confirmed that Leo requested a mail in ballot October 3 using his registered New Lenox address.
The Vatican said the pope exercised his right to vote as an American citizen, consistent with his long standing belief in civic participation.
"The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes," the Vatican said.
The pope's family also maintains connections to New Lenox.
His brother, John Prevost, was reportedly in Rome this week accompanying parishioners from St. Jude Catholic Church, an Augustinian run parish in New Lenox where the elder Prevost attends Mass.
Pope Leo previously addressed the parish in 2024 while serving as a cardinal.
Public voting records show Prevost participated in several Illinois elections before becoming pope, including requesting ballots while registered in Will County.
Those records do not reveal which candidates he supported in general elections.
The Associated Press reported that it remains unclear exactly how Leo returned his completed ballot.
For New Lenox residents, the development places their Will County community at the center of an unusual moment in both American political and Catholic Church history.
The world's first American pope has made history at the ballot box while maintaining his Illinois voting connection.