VOA标准英语2009年-South Africans Living Abroad Gain Voting Right

The South African Constitution Court has ruled citizens who are registered voters and reside abroad are entitled to vote. The decision overturns sections of the country's electoral law.

In a unanimous decision the Constitutional Court, the country's highest on constitutional matters, has restored to many South Africans living abroad the right to vote in the upcoming election for the houses of parliament. The judgment¹ was written by Justice Kate O'Regan.

"On this basis I hold that section 33.1.e of the electoral act, and the related provisions of the regulations, constitute an unjustifiable limitation of section 19 of the constitution, which entrenches² the right to vote," O'Regan said.

Justice Sandile Ngcobo who delivered the court's decision in a related case explained the effect of the court's rulings.

"The effect of the order that I am about to make, is that South African citizens who are abroad and who registered as voters, will be allowed to vote," Ngcobo said. "Those who are not registered, will not."

In South Africa registration³ as a voter is permanent and therefore any voter who has registered to vote after 1994, is now eligible⁴ to vote.

The cases before the constitutional court related to South Africans who reside temporarily and permanently⁵ abroad.

The court ruled only in the applications of individuals who are already registered voters because one of those cases had already been heard in a lower court. That judge made a similar ruling, but referred the case to the constitutional court because his ruling related to a section in the constitution.

The constitutional court judges decided⁶ against ruling on applications relating to unregistered voters, which have not yet been heard in a lower court. Those applicants⁷, and applicants who sought relief to vote in provincial⁸ elections, will first have to take their cases to a lower court. Justice Ngcobo said there appeared to be no reason why the applicants had left it so late to seek relief from the courts.

The court ruled that registered voters living aboard must apply to the Independent Electoral Commission by March 27 for a special ballot⁹. Chief Electoral Officer Pansy Tlakula told South Africa's eNews Channel her commission will be ready for voters abroad to cast their ballots¹⁰ on April 22.

"So all in all we are relieved that this is over, there is certainty on the matter and we will be able to start preparing for overseas votes," Tlakula said.

It is unclear how many voters will benefit from the court's decision.

1 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

2 entrenches   

v.用壕沟围绕或保护…( entrench的第三人称单数 )；牢固地确立…

参考例句：

• It entrenches the army's role guaranteeing it a quarter of parliamentary seats. 军队的角色被牢固确立，宪法赋予军队四分之一的议会席位。 来自互联网
• This matter entrenches on other domains. 这件事对其他方面也有影响。 来自互联网

3 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

4 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

5 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

8 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

9 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。

10 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》