People
G
Georgiana
Topics
Georgiana: 美国投票有明确的资格要求,必须是美国公民且年满18岁。不同州的登记投票方式略有不同,有些州允许当天登记,有些州需要提前登记。美国有三种类型的选举:总统选举(每四年一次)、中期选举(每两年一次)以及地方选举(每年可能都有)。投票方式主要有三种:选举日当天亲自投票、提前亲自投票和邮寄投票。亲自投票时,需要根据所在州的情况查看是否需要携带身份证件。投票流程包括:收到选票、标记选择、提交选票。一些重要的投票相关词汇包括:选票 (ballot),投票站 (polling place),缺席投票 (absentee ballot),候选人 (candidate)。 Hannah: 第一次在美国投票的经历充满紧张和自豪感。在投票站排队时,周围的人们分享着共同参与重要事件的感受。一位年长者给予鼓励,让她感到安心。投票过程让她深刻体会到自己拥有表达声音和参与社会的机会,选票不仅仅是一张纸,更是她参与社会变革的工具。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What are the basic requirements to vote in the United States?

To vote in the U.S., you must be a U.S. citizen, be 18 years old or older, and register to vote. Some states allow same-day registration, while others require registration ahead of time.

What are the three main ways to vote in the U.S.?

The three main ways to vote are: in person on election day at a polling place, early in person before election day, and by mail, which may require requesting a ballot.

What types of elections are held in the U.S.?

The U.S. holds presidential elections every four years, midterm elections every two years (halfway through a president's term), and local elections annually for positions like mayor or city council.

What is an absentee ballot and when is it used?

An absentee ballot is a ballot that is mailed in, often used when a voter is out of town or unable to vote in person.

What is the significance of the 'I Voted' sticker?

The 'I Voted' sticker is a way to celebrate and show participation in the voting process, symbolizing civic engagement and pride.

What is the role of a polling place in the voting process?

A polling place is the designated location where voters go to cast their ballots in person on election day.

Chapters
This chapter explains the voting process in the USA, including who is eligible to vote, different types of elections, and the three main ways to cast a vote: in person, early in person, and by mail. It also defines key vocabulary related to voting.
  • Requirements to vote in the US: US citizenship and 18 years of age or older
  • Three ways to vote: in person on election day, early in person, and by mail
  • Key vocabulary: ballot, polling place, absentee ballot, candidate

Shownotes Transcript

Translations:
中文

This week, we had elections in the U.S., which is a great time to discuss voting. I'll explain how voting works in the U.S.A., who can vote, how to do it, and some useful words. If voting seems confusing, don't worry. I'll make it simple. Hi, I'm Georgiana, and I'm back with a new episode.

I'm here to help you speak English fluently. And what do you need to speak fluently? You need to listen, listen and listen. If you want to help me, share the podcast with your friends and family. That would mean a lot. Thanks.

On my website, you can get the 5 secrets to speak English fluently, and also my premium courses. Before we start, get the transcript at speakenglishpodcast.com. Okay, let's start. In the United States, you must meet a few requirements to vote.

You must be a U.S. citizen. You must be 18 years old or older. Some states allow you to register on the day you vote, but in many states, you must register ahead of time. There are different types of elections in the U.S., presidential elections. These happen every four years to elect the president.

Midterm elections. These take place halfway through a president's term, every two years. And local elections. These can happen every year and include voting for local government positions like the mayor or city council. Once you're registered, here's how the voting process works. There are three main ways to vote.

First option is to vote in person on election day. Go to a voting location called a polling place. Another option is to vote early in person. Many states let people vote before election day. The third option is vote by mail.

You can send your vote in by mail, but you may need to request a ballot. If you're voting in person, check if your state requires you to bring an ID, like a driver's license. Some states require ID, but others do not. When you arrive, you'll receive a ballot.

The ballot lists all the candidates and questions you can vote on. You mark your choices on the ballot. In most cases, you will fill in a bubble or check a box. Once you finish, you'll submit your ballot. Some places have machines that scan it. Others have a box where you drop it off. And don't forget...

You'll get a sticker that says, I voted. It's a nice way to celebrate and show you participated. Here are a few important words to know. Ballot. This is the paper or form where you mark your vote. Polling place. This is the location where you go to vote. Absentee ballot. This is a ballot you mail in.

Often used if you're out of town or can't vote in person. A candidate is a person running for office, like president or senator. So voting can feel complicated. But once you know the basics, it's simple. It's a great way to have a say in your community and country. Great! Let's continue with a point-of-view lesson.

I will tell you the same story twice, so make sure to focus on the changes. You can find these techniques fully implemented in my premium courses. Visit speakenglishpodcast.com slash courses. Okay, let's start. Hi, I'm Hannah, and today is a big emotional day for me.

It's my first time voting in the US. As I stay in line, clutching my voter ID, I feel a mix of nerves and pride. Around me, people are chatting, some with serious expressions, others laughing with friends. There's this shared feeling in the air. Like we all know, we're doing something important together.

An older man in front of me turns around. He gives me a gentle smile. First time? He asks softly. I nod and he pats my shoulder. You'll remember this. I've been voting for decades, and it always matters. His words comfort me. I take a deep breath and feel my nerves settle.

When it's my turn, I set up to the check-in desk. The poll worker smiles warmly as she hands me my ballot. Good luck in there, she says with a wink. I walk over to a small booth, feeling the weight of the moment. The ballot in front of me is more than a paper. It's my voice, my chance to make a difference.

I carefully mark my choices, each stroke of the pen filling me with a sense of purpose. With my ballot complete, I head to the machine to cast my vote. My hands tremble a bit as I slide it in. The machine lights up, and a poll worker claps quietly. Congratulations, you did it.

Great. Let's listen to the same story from a different viewpoint. Hannah had a big emotional day. It was her first time voting in the U.S. As she stood in line, clutching her voter ID, she felt a mix of nerves and pride. All around her, people were chatting.

some with serious expressions, others laughing with friends. There was a shared feeling in the air, like everyone knew they were doing something important together. An older man in front of her turned around and gave her a gentle smile. First time, he asked softly. She nodded and patted her shoulder. You'll remember this.

I've been voting for decades, and it always matters. His words comforted her. She took a deep breath and felt her nerves settle. When it was her turn, she stepped up to the check-in desk. The poll worker smiled warmly as she handed her a ballot. Good luck in there, she said with a wink.

Hannah walked over to a small booth, feeling the weight of the moment. The ballot in front of her was more than paper. It was her voice, her chance to make a difference. She carefully marked her choices, each stroke of the pen, feeling her with a sense of purpose. With her ballot complete...

She headed to the machine to cast her vote. Her hands trembled a bit as she slid it in. The machine lit up, and a poll worker clapped quietly. Congratulations, you did it. Great! I like these kinds of stories because they're easy to remember and help a lot with learning English.

Humor also makes learning more enjoyable. You can find this method in my premium courses. Visit speakenglishpodcast.com slash courses. Also, if you want to help me, share the podcast with your friends and family. That would mean a lot. Thanks. See you soon. Bye-bye.

Did you enjoy today's episode?