Naturalization ceremonies offer 160 new citizens the opportunity to register to vote
MAY 15, 2012
Swearing in takes place at Gerald R. Ford Museum in
Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Michigan Secretary of State representatives will offer
new citizens the opportunity to register to vote after two naturalization
ceremonies in Grand Rapids on May 16, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced
today.
Wednesday's ceremonies will be at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Both events will be
held at the Gerald R. Ford Museum, 303 Pearl St. N.W. About 80 participants are
expected at each ceremony.
"Each person in attendance has a story to tell of the journey undertaken to
get to this point," Johnson said. "I congratulate everyone on their citizenship
and encourage them to take a few moments to register to vote so they can
exercise their right to have their vote count and their voice heard on Election
Day."
As Michigan's chief elections officer, Johnson will have a voter registration
table on site for the convenience of the newly sworn citizens. People also may
register to vote at their local clerk's office, a Secretary of State office or
by mail.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau, part of the Department
of Homeland Security, is conducting the ceremonies, during which residents who
want to become citizens take the oath of citizenship and receive their
certificate of naturalization. This follows a detailed application process
including interviews, fingerprinting, and English and civics tests.
For more information about office locations and additional services, visit
www.michigan.gov/sos. Sign up for the official Secretary of
State Twitter feed at
www.twitter.com/michsos and Facebook updates at
www.facebook.com/michigansos.
Customers also may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a
customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).
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For media questions, please call Gisgie Dávila Gendreau at 517-373-2520.
