VOA标准英语2012--How We Vote: Registration as Party Strategy

 How We Vote: Registration¹ as Party Strategy

Every American citizen 18 and older, with few exceptions, is eligible² to take part in elections.
In the 2008 U.S. presidential contest, 63.6 percent of those eligible to vote did so.
The U.S. differs from many countries in that the national government does not regulate elections. While the right to vote is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and the minimum age of 18 is set by federal law, the 50 U.S. states set the registration rules.
In some states, one can register to vote on election day. In other states, registration closes before the election. States also have various rules regarding residency, which affects whether someone can register there.
The two major U.S. parties -- the Democrats³ and the Republicans -- work to expand their size and influence through voter registration.
"It's crucial for us to get out to everybody and get them registered, and lined up ready to vote," says Ina Taylor, a Democratic Party official in the mid-Atlantic state of Maryland explaining that finding new people is as important as mobilizing the party regulars on Election Day.
Maryland Republican Party official Fred Fleischman calls registration an essential part of gaining and holding political power.
"In the state of Maryland, [with Republicans] being a minority party, it's very critical for us to register as many voters as possible so we have enough muscle, so we can compete on an even playing field with the other party," he says.
In some states, voters register as members of a given political party, while in others they do not. But people in every state can also register as independents. In some states, party affiliation⁴ is required to take part in preliminary elections called "primaries" that determine each party's candidate in the general election. But in other states, independents can take part as well.
Voter registration is also promoted by groups such as racial and ethnic⁵ minorities. This is to help ensure that elected officials know their concerns and respond to them.
"It's so important, especially with me being an African American," says Zebediah Daniels, a newly registered voter. "I feel our people fought for this, and it's very important that our people get out and continue to vote because it's such a rich privilege."
A federal law passed in 1995 allows people to register to vote while getting a driver's license⁶, and a handful of states now permit voters to register via the Internet. Proponents⁷ say it is yet another way to increase participation⁸ in the election process that makes the U.S. a democratic nation.

1 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？

2 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。

3 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》

4 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。

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

6 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

7 proponents   

n.（某事业、理论等的）支持者，拥护者( proponent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Reviewing courts were among the most active proponents of hybrid rulemaking procedures. 复审法院是最积极的混合型规则制定程序的建议者。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Proponents of such opinions were arrested as 'traitors. ' 提倡这种主张的人马上作为“卖国贼”逮捕起来。 来自辞典例句

8 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。