Nearly 24 million immigrant adults in the U.S. were naturalized citizens in 2022, according to the Pew Research Center. That’s 1 in 10 eligible voters!
In 2022 MIRA launched the New American Changemakers program to uplift the voices of newly naturalized U.S. citizens and create more opportunities for civic engagement and participation in MIRA’s advocacy work. Participants attend a series of four workshops on topics related to understanding our local, state, and federal government structures, learning about MIRA’s key policy initiatives, and gaining skills to successfully advocate with policymakers.
With the election fast approaching (only 12 days til November 5th – gasp!) we reached out to some of the graduates from MIRA’s New American Changemakers program to find out what they have to say about voting as new citizens.
Patrick emigrated to the U.S. from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and was one of 15 graduates in the 2023 cohort. We asked him to share his thoughts on the importance of voting,
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’ve been in the US for 8 years now. When I got here I attended the New Citizenship Center, then went to Burncoat high school in Worcester. I got my Associates Degree in Business Administration at Quincy Community College, then my Bachelors in Science Business Administration at Worcester State University, where I am currently finishing my Masters. I’ve worked in Student Services, in the International Program Student office. I also worked at MIRA, with Americorps as an assistant ESL teacher. I got my citizenship in March 2023, so I’ve been a citizen for more than a year now.
Why is it important to you to vote?
It is important to vote because it gives people a voice in making decisions, and people have the right to make decisions about what’s right for them. People’s opinions matter. You can’t say “what’s the point? I’m not going to vote” – it holds elected officials accountable, to make sure your perspective and needs are represented.
What is most exciting to you about voting?
What motivates you most in this upcoming election, and why?
Well, this is my first time voting; I’m excited to vote because it gives me an opportunity to participate in the community. It gives me an opportunity to be involved in the community. It’s an opportunity to be a part of America. Some people aren’t voting, or feel like voting is not important; I want to inspire them to engage in the community. Even one vote can change a lot of things.
Do you have any special plans for November 5?
I’m voting by mail, so probably I’ll just stay home and watch the results on TV. People get frustrated with the results; so I’ll just stay home with my family and wait to see what happens.
What would you say to others about why they should get out to vote?
To those who don’t want to vote, or aren’t willing to vote, I want to say: your opinion, your vote, can change a lot of things. And it’s your duty, your responsibility as an American. Your voice matters, so you have to engage. I remember once feeling that it didn’t matter. But I came to realize that even one vote can change a lot of things.
Are you a new citizen? We want you to know:
You can bring a friend or family member with you to the polls.
You can bring notes into the polls.
Individuals who are naturalized after the registration deadline but before the election can still register to vote! If you became a U.S. citizen after the voter registration deadline, you can register to vote in person at your local election office until 4 p.m. on the day before the election. Make sure you bring proof that your naturalization ceremony took place after the voter registration deadline.
Click here for key voting deadlines, links to resources and more information