2006年VOA标准英语-US Election Could Shift Balance of Power in Con

By Deborah Tate
Washington
07 November 2006
  

President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush walk out of the Crawford Fire Station after casting their votes

Americans are casting their ballots² in midterm elections that have been shaped by widespread dissatisfaction over the war in Iraq.  The election could shift the balance of power in the U.S. Congress.

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President Bush cast his ballot¹ early Tuesday in Crawford, Texas, where he urged people across the country to get out and vote.

"Our government is only as good as the willingness of our people to participate, and therefore, no matter what your party affiliation³ or if you do not have a party affiliation, do your duty," he said. "Cast your ballot, and let your voice be heard."

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for grabs, as are 33 seats in the 100-member Senate. Voters will also be choosing governors in 36 states, and deciding a variety of referendum issues, from gay marriage to embryonic⁴ stem cell research.

Democrats⁵ are hoping that dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq will help them retake control of one or both houses of Congress.

"People in this country really want a new direction, and I think you are going to see a big turnout, and I think we are going to get a new direction in the country," said Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic Party.

Public opinion polls taken in the run-up to the election indicate Democrats have a good chance of recapturing a majority in the House, and making gains in the Senate. Democrats need to win an additional 15 seats in the House and six seats in the Senate to take control of both chambers⁶.

Among the closest races are those for the Senate in Missouri, Virginia, Tennessee, Montana, and Rhode Island, all Republican-held seats.

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。

4 embryonic   

adj.胚胎的

参考例句：

• It is still in an embryonic stage.它还处于萌芽阶段。
• The plan,as yet,only exists in embryonic form.这个计划迄今为止还只是在酝酿之中。

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网