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New American Citizens Celebrate First Time Voting

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With Election Day rapidly approaching, dozens of immigrants inside Philadelphia City Hall met to talk about what lies ahead when the next president is inaugurated.

"I am just so incredibly honored that I have a choice now," Fabiola Castellanos-Gaspar told dozens of first time voters.

Castellanos-Gaspar is from Mexico and says she's proud to vote for the first time on November 8th.

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"I'm very excited that I'm finally able to make decisions and choices of my own will. It's very empowering," she told Eyewitness News.

The event featuring Mayor Jim Kenny was sponsored by the Committee of Seventy and Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians. People from Niger to Belgium met to discuss important issues from immigration to education.

"It's very emotional. When you are a resident somewhere and you can't vote you sort of feel like you are a passenger on the bus and now I feel like I'm in the driving seat," Natasha Kelemen said.

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