Pope Leo XIV casts a mail-in ballot in the 2026 US midterm elections, the first pope to vote in a US general election.
The Vatican confirmed on Friday that Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost and a US citizen, submitted a mail-in ballot in Illinois ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The Holy See press office said he has voted whenever eligible, including during his years in Peru. Illinois records show Prevost requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010 and Republican ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
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Divergence score
12 outlets covered it, splitting into 12 framing camps across 4 bias groups.
12 camps
4 bias groups
The spectrum · how 12 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
AP News
Daily Wire
Globe and Mail
BBC
CBS News
Washington Examiner
Washington Times
Axios
South China Morning Post
CNN
Le Monde
NY Post
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
Washington Examiner
Pope Leo XIV requested a ballot to vote by mail in 2026 elections
Casts doubt on whether ballot was returned · negative
CNN
Pope Leo makes history by voting in US midterms
Terse historic-first confirmation · neutral
First to report
- CNNfirst
- Daily Wire+4.2 h
- Washington Times+6.8 h
- NY Post+7.4 h
- Washington Examiner+7.4 h
- Globe and Mail+7.6 h
- Le Monde+7.7 h
- South China Morning Post+7.8 h
- AP News+8.0 h
- CBS News+8.1 h
- BBC+8.6 h
- Axios+8.9 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
Most outlets report the Vatican confirmation as a first. Some frame it as civic duty and a historic first; others lead with a requested, not yet returned ballot and his feud with Trump.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
29LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Pope Leo XIV requested a ballot to vote by mail in 2026 elections”WE Washington Examiner RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a US general election - AP News” · AP News, Globe and Mail, BBC, Axios, South China Morning Post, Le Monde
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 12 outlets put it
CENTER2
APAP News Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a US general election - AP News 1h ago AAxios Pope Leo XIV becomes first pope to vote in U.S. election 40m ago RIGHT4
DWDaily Wire Illinois Man Casts Mail-In Ballot. He Happens To Be The Pope. 5h ago WEWashington Examiner Pope Leo XIV requested a ballot to vote by mail in 2026 elections 2h ago WTWashington Times Pope Leo poised to make history by voting in U.S. midterm election 2h ago NYPNY Post Pope Leo XIV makes history as first pope to vote in US general election 2h ago INTERNATIONAL4
GMGlobe and Mail Pope Leo becomes first pope to vote in U.S. general election 1h ago BBCBBC Pope Leo XIV becomes first pontiff to vote in a US election 59m ago SCSouth China Morning Post Pope Leo becomes first pope ever to vote in US election, submits mail-in ballot 1h ago LMLe Monde Leo XIV cast Midterms ballot, Vatican says 1h ago 5 tracked claims across 12 outlets
Fact ledger
All5Corroborated5
9/12
Corroborated
The Vatican confirmed Pope Leo XIV submitted a mail-in ballot in the US midterm elections.
Corroborated
Disputed
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