Volunteers from the League of Women Voters of Buffalo Niagara stepped up to work with 212 new citizens and help register them to vote at five naturalization ceremonies from March through June. We were able to actively engage with voters, answer questions and make sure the voter registration forms were accurate and complete. Working with our partners from the Erie County Board of Elections, we greeted new citizens who were excited to register to vote and looking forward to voting for their first time.

Citizens were welcomed to our country from 32 nations: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Canada, China, Congo, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Haiti, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Mongolia, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saint Lucia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

We were grateful to be present as our new citizens swore allegiance to the United States. Thanks to our
naturalization volunteers, including Deborah Shiffner, Janet Goodsell, Sharon Cramer, Suzanne Thomas, Mary Lou Enser, Eileen Cassidy, Lori O’Day and Barbara Weiztner-Lin. Thanks to our Board of Elections partner as well.

Deborah Shiffner, Naturalization Ceremonies Coordinator