VOA常速英语2016--日益增长的亚裔美国人群体可能影响美国大选

Growing Asian-American Community Could Influence US Elections 日益增长的亚裔美国人群体可能影响美国大选

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA—

The expanding number of Asian-American voters in the United States doesn’t necessarily translate into political clout¹ in U.S. elections, even though Asian-Americans represent the fastest-growing immigrant population in the United States.

Many who are eligible² to vote sit on the sidelines. The members of one organization want to remove some barriers they say are in the way of getting Asian-Americans to vote, hoping to reverse low voter turnout.

Burmese refugee Ma Zin settled in the town of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in 2004, after years fleeing from Myanmar’s oppressive ruling military junta³. Twelve years later she’s still working on her English skills, though that hasn’t stopped her from becoming a U.S. citizen, a responsibility she cherishes.

缅甸的难民马辛在多年躲避缅甸军政府的高压统治后，于2004年定居印第安纳州韦恩堡的城镇。12年过去了，她仍然在努力提高她的英语能力，但是这并没有阻碍她成为一名美国公民，一份她十分珍视的责任。

“Because we’ve become a citizen of America, it is important that we select a president,because as a citizen we would like to know what a president can do for us.”

“因为我们已经是美国公民了，由我们选举总统是十分重要的，因为作为美国公民，我们想知道总统能为我们做什么。”

The 2016 U.S. presidential election is Zin’s first experience participating in a democratic process to choose a leader,a path she is on at the same time democratic reforms are taking hold in her home country of Myanmar.The two are not unrelated to Zin.

2016年美国总统选举是辛第一次参与到民主党竞选过程中选择一位领导人。在支持民主党的同时，她的祖国缅甸，也进行着民主改革。这两者对于辛来说并不是没有联系的。

“Hillary Clinton and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi both have a relationship for changing and bringing Burma’s democratization.That is one of the reasons why I would like to see Hillary become president.”

“希拉里克林顿和昂山素季两者的联系在于，她们都希望改变以及为缅甸带来民主化，这也是为什么我希望希拉里成为总统的原因之一。”

While Zin waits to cast her first ballot⁴, this isn’t her first opportunity to participate in a U.S. election.Although eligible since 2008, she did not register to vote in the last two presidential elections, overwhelmed by the language barrier and the process.

辛等着投出她的选票，这并不是她第一次获得机会参与到美国大选中。尽管2008年起，她就有资格参与，但是在过去的两届总统大选中，她都未能注册投票，因为语言障碍和投票程序而不知所措。

“There’s not enough information out there that people don’t know how to navigate⁵ that system.”Kristina Tendilla is a community organizer for Asian-Americans Advancing Justice, a non-profit group committed to empowering Asian-Americans.

“并没有足够的信息告知人们怎么通过这一过程。”克里斯提娜滕迪利亚是亚裔美国人推动正义组织的社区干事，这是一个非营利性、致力于帮助亚裔美国人自强的团体。

She says one way to help new potential voters, particularly in the neighboring state of Illinois, is automatic voter registration⁶ couple with the apply for a driver’s license⁷ or ID card.

她说帮助潜在的新选民的一个方法是使用驾驶证和身份证的自动选民登记制，尤其是在伊利诺伊州的周边地区。

“...which would basically automatically register people who are eligible to vote when they interact with the Secretary of State, or the Department of Motor Vehicles.”

“在人们和国务院或者车管局打交道时，这可以对那些有资格投票的人们，自动进行登记。”

Asian Americans represent the fast-growing immigrant population in the United States.

在美国，亚裔美国人的移民人口数增长最快。

“We are actually the fastest growing ethnic⁸ community in this country.”

“我们实际上是这个国家人口数增长最快的少数族裔。”

And her reached numbers Tendilla says can increasingly influence the outcome of not just national, but local elections, too.

而滕迪利亚所提到的数量不仅仅对全国大选，而且对地方选举也产生越来越大的影响。

“These elections could be won on 100 or 200 votes, which is really incredible and an opportunity for our community to make a difference.”

“这些选举可能在此会赢得100或200票,这真的有点难以置信，是我们的社区发挥重要作用的一次机会。”

Ma Zin still needs to register to vote for this year’s presidential election in November.In the large Burmese community in Fort Wayne where she lives, there is widespread support for Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi.Zin is proud that a woman has such a prominent leadership role in her home country, and wants to be a part of such a moment in her new country.

马辛仍需要为11月的总统大选投票进行注册。在她居住的韦恩堡的缅甸人大社区，有很多人支持缅甸领导人昂山素季。辛对于一个女人在她的祖国拥有如此突出的领导地位感到很自豪，她也希望在新的国家，她能成为见证这一时刻的一份子。

“We are so proud of it. Now America hopefully will have a woman president.”

“我们对此都感到十分自豪，现在美国也希望能有个女性总统。”

Hillary Clinton is on track to make history as the first female presidential candidate of a major party,and thanks to the voters like Ma Zin could also be on her way to an historic election night this November.

希拉里·克林顿作为美国主要政党的第一位女性总统候选人，正在创造历史的路上。得益于马辛这些选民，她正向着11月那个历史性的选举之夜迈进。

1 clout   

n.用手猛击；权力，影响力

参考例句：

• The queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.女王有特权，但无真正的政治影响力。
• He gave the little boy a clout on the head.他在那小男孩的头部打了一下。

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 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

4 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。

5 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

6 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？

7 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。

8 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。