102-year-old woman marks birthday with citizenship, voting

CHICAGO, March 19 (UPI) -- A Chicago woman originally from Spain celebrated her 102nd birthday by becoming a U.S. citizen, registering to vote and casting her ballot.

Felicidad Lage took the oath of citizenship Wednesday alongside 103 other newly-minted U.S. citizens and her daughter performed the national anthem at the event with her son accompanying.

Lage's family said she insisted on going straight from the citizenship ceremony to the Chicago Election Board, where she registered to vote and received her local ballot.

Chicago Election Board spokesman Jim Allen said Lage should serve as an inspiration to thousands of younger Chicagoans who have yet to register to vote.

"What's your excuse?" he asked Chicagoans in an interview with WBBM-TV.

The city is allowing grace period registration and voting in the local election through April 4.

Lage told WLS-TV she was in a hurry to vote after getting her citizenship papers because "you never know what may happen tomorrow."