Wheaton Welcomes 75 New U.S. Citizens
Citizens from 34 countries took the Oath of Allegiance at Cantigny Park on the eve of the midterm elections.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Civic
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75 new U.S. citizens from 34 countries took the Oath of Allegiance at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois, on Monday. U.S. District Judge John Kness administered the oath, and the League of Women Voters helped new citizens register to vote.
Why it matters
The ceremony took place one day before the midterm elections, making the new citizens immediately eligible to cast ballots. It highlights the role of local civic organizations in connecting naturalized residents to the voting process.
The ceremony naturalized 75 people representing 34 countries of origin, according to the event details. The extraction does not report how many of the new citizens completed voter registration.
The players
John Kness
John Kness is a U.S. District Judge who administered the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens at the ceremony.
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan civic organization that promotes voter registration and informed participation in elections.
The details
Judge John Kness administered the Oath of Allegiance to the 75 new citizens at Cantigny Park, and the League of Women Voters attended to help them register to vote. One new citizen, Negar Shahsavari, came to the U.S. from Iran a decade ago and later earned a PhD, completed a residency, and began practicing as a specialized dentist.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: 75 new citizens take the Oath of Allegiance at Cantigny Park in Wheaton.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Midterm elections, when the new citizens are eligible to vote.
Civic Context
Pairing naturalization oath ceremonies with League of Women Voters registration drives follows a long-standing practice of bringing newly sworn citizens directly into the electorate. The Wheaton event places that practice ahead of a midterm election, when the new citizens can vote right away.
The newly naturalized residents of Wheaton are now eligible to vote in the midterm elections the following day. Those who completed registration at the ceremony can cast ballots without needing to complete the process separately.
The takeaway
Civic events like this one show how naturalization and voter registration can happen side by side, turning a citizenship milestone into an immediate opportunity to participate in local and national elections.
Further reading
Explore more civic coverage from across the region to see how local communities engage new voters.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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