One More Citizen: How Free Classes Help Residents Vote for the First Time

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Written By Blue & Gold NLR Team

 

 

As early in-person voting gains momentum in Michigan and Indiana, a significant milestone has been reached for many individuals casting their ballots for the first time.

Local non-profit organization One More Citizen, in partnership with churches, offers free, ten-week citizenship classes designed to help legal permanent residents navigate the naturalization process. This initiative ensures that students complete their citizenship journey in time to vote.

With an average of 36-40 students per semester, the program culminates in a momentous occasion for newly naturalized citizens.

On a recent Sunday, ten students, now U.S. citizens, made their way to the County-City Building in South Bend to exercise their voting rights. Among them was Nora Castillo, who expressed her mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness.

I’m nervous, but I hope that the person I’m voting for will be the right one and that everything will change for a better life for all of us here in the United States, she shared.

This initiative highlights the importance of civic engagement and the ongoing efforts to empower new citizens in participating in the democratic process.

 

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