WINONA — A 97-year-old Chinese immigrant who just became a U.S. citizen is ready to vote in her first Minnesota election.

The Minnesota League of Women Voters-Winona says Chengyi Pan, originally from Tianjin, China, had been living with her daughter in Winona for the past five years.

Chengyi applied for citizenship as soon as she was eligible, and at 97, because a U.S. citizen on Sept. 30.

U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank came to Winona and presided over her oath.

Chengyi has registered online through the Minnesota secretary of state’s office and is ready to vote on Nov. 4 at her polling place in the Winona nursing home where she now lives.

She told witnesses at her ceremony she is thankful to be in the United States.