Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes welcomed and congratulated new United States citizens at a historic naturalization ceremony on Friday at the State Capitol, the first ever held in the building. Grimes recognized 40 new citizens from 25 different countries who took the oath of citizenship to become naturalized Americans officially. Grimes encouraged the new citizens to register to vote via Kentucky’s online registration portal at GoVoteKY.com, a right they attained after becoming citizens. Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove of the Eastern District of Kentucky presided over the proceedings and told the new citizens that they now have a responsibility to protect and use the rights they have been given as citizens of the United States.