VOA标准英语2014--Texas Voter ID Law Discourages Some Voters

 

Texas Voter ID Law Discourages Some Voters

HOUSTON— 

The U.S. Supreme¹ Court recently upheld the Texas voter identification law, which requires voters to show an approved form of picture ID in order to vote at a poll.  Those who are already registered and who are qualified² to vote by mail can still cast a ballot³ and the state provides free election certificates to those who can prove their U.S. citizenship⁴ and residence in Texas. Critics of the law say it puts an undue⁵ burden on poor people, minorities, the elderly and the disabled.

Early voting began here in Texas just a couple of days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state can require voters to show a photo ID to cast a ballot.

Texas Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott said the law will prevent voter fraud.

“Voter fraud is real and it must be stopped. How can you prove voter impersonation without an ID? You can’t. Which is exactly why it is needed,” said Abbott.

The law's supporters say most democratic countries around the world require voters to show ID.

But critics point out there have been few instances of voter fraud in the U.S. -- and that in Texas, where the state once blocked African-Americans and Hispanics from voting, it is more important to encourage voter participation⁷.

Marianela Acuna of VoteRiders, a non-profit voter advocacy group, said there are many reasons why someone may not have an approved form of identification.

“There are people who need to renew their ID, there are also people who need to get their ID for the first time and do not have documents to prove their name change or their birth,” said Acuna.

Political Science professor Mark Jones at Rice University said around half a million Texans may not have a proper ID to vote.

“Their only option is to get the free election identification certificate the state supplies, but that is not really free because you need a birth certificate to get it, which costs around $25 and you also have to go to a Department of Public Safety office to obtain it, and for someone without a car it is pretty difficult,” said Jones.

Jones said the voter ID law is unlikely to have any impact on major state races, but it could have an impact on some very close local races, including a few here in Houston.

For example, Republican Devon Anderson and Democrat⁶ Kim Ogg are in a very tight race for Harris County District Attorney.

“We could have… perhaps a half dozen races that are decided⁸ because of the voter ID legislation,” said Jones.

Activist⁹ groups like the Texas Organizing Project are fielding volunteers to help people with ID problems and provide transportation to the polls, but they are also encountering voter apathy¹⁰.

In Texas, it is expected that close to two-thirds of eligible¹¹ voters will not exercise their right to vote this year even though most of them have an acceptable ID.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

3 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。

4 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

5 undue   

adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的

参考例句：

• Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。

6 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

7 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。

8 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。

9 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

10 apathy   

n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡

参考例句：

• He was sunk in apathy after his failure.他失败后心恢意冷。
• She heard the story with apathy.她听了这个故事无动于衷。

11 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。