美日不在籍投票制
Many people have missed out on their opportunity to vote because they were otherwise engaged.
許多人因為忙於其他事務無法抽身而錯失投票的機會。
missed out on錯失得到好處的機會otherwise(adv.)以別的方式=differently
As a solution, countries such as the United States and Japan have instituted absentee ballots that allow people to cast their votes without going to the designated polling stations.
為了解決這種困境，美國和日本建立了不在籍投票制度，讓人民不用前往指定投開票所，就能夠投下神聖的一票。
institute(v.)開始施行某種制度(n.)學院、機構ballot(n.)選票=vote、不記名投票cast a ballot投票=cast a votedesignate(v.)指派、指定=assign=appoint
In the United States, absentee voting has evolved into a common feature of political life over time.
在美國隨著時間推演，不在籍投票制已經成為政治活動中普遍的一環。
evolve(v.)演變、進化=develop=advanceevolution(n.)演化相似字revolution(n.)革命、變革theory of evolution演化論
The first recorded use of absentee ballots in the US dates back to the Civil War (1861-1865), when soldiers of the Union army were granted special permission to vote in federal elections.
美國歷史上首次出現不在籍投票是在南北戰爭時期（1861-1865），北軍享有為聯邦層級選舉投票的特別許可。
dates back to追朔回=go back to=can be traced back toprivilege(n.)特權、特殊待遇
As the voting system continued to develop into the twentieth century, the right of absentee voting was extended to civilians.
直到20世紀，投票制度持續發展，不在籍投票的權利已擴展到平民身上，
civil- citizenscivil law民法civilian(n.)平民百姓civilization(n.)文明
Still, it was far from widespread, being subjected to limited circumstances.
但不在籍投票制仍不廣泛，在特定局勢發生時才適用。
far from...一點也不=not...at allwidespread(adj.)普遍的=commonsubject to受…影響、取決於=dependent on=controlled bycircumstance(n.)情況、形勢condition(n.)情況、條件
Following World War Two, the limitations were lifted in one state after another, so that by the mid-1960s, all but New Mexico had allowed absentee voting.
二次世界大戰爆發，每個州政府也跟著放寬限制，直到1960中期，除了新墨西哥州以外全國都可以使用不在籍投票制。
following在…之後=afterlift the ban取消禁令one...after another一個接一個
all but…=all states but...but(prep.)除了...之外(=except or except for)
Today, Americans can even vote in space.
直至今日，美國人甚至可以在太空投票。
For instance, NASA Commander Leroy Chiao voted in the 2004 presidential election via email from the International Space Station.
像是NASA指揮官焦立中就曾於2004年在國際太空站上透過電子郵件投票參與總統大選。
for instance舉例來說=for examplevia透過=through
On the other hand, Japanese nationals living abroad did not enjoy the right of absentee voting until approximately two decades ago.
另一方面，旅居海外的日本國民直到約20年前才開始享有不在籍投票權利，
關代省略living abroad=who lived abroadapproximately(adv.)=roughly=around=about
Back in 1993, suffrage was limited to voters registered as living in Japan.
直到1993年，都只有登記居住在日本國內的居民才擁有投票權，
be limited to僅限於=be restricted to關代省略(who were) registered
Many expatriates viewed the restriction as a violation of their constitutional rights.
許多僑胞認為這樣的法令侵犯了他們的權益，
expatriate(n.)僑民=emigrant移民view...as...視為=consider...(to be)...=think of...as...civil rights公民權constitutional rights憲法權利human rights人權
After years of their lobbying, a new bill in 1998 cleared both chambers of the Diet, granting them the right to vote in the proportional representation elections.
經過多年的遊說，1998年日本國會參眾兩院兩院通過新法案，才賦予他們投票參與議會選舉的資格。
lobby(v.)遊說lobbyist(n.)說客bribery(n.)賄賂（行為）bribe(v.)(n.)收買、賄賂take the bribe收取賄賂proportion(n.)比例
In 2005, a revision of the law further allowed them to vote for candidates in electoral districts.
2005年，法令增修讓海外國民也可以參與地方選舉。
revise(v.)修改、改寫、增修(法條)revision(n.)(法律)增修條文
Japanese citizens can now vote beyond national boundaries to as far as Antarctica.
現在日本國民最遠到南極都可以參與投票。
boundary(n.)界限border(n.)國界
“The key to democracy is participation, and overseas voters can now have a much greater sense of involvement,” said an American expatriate living in Japan.
一位旅居日本的美籍僑民說：「民主的關鍵在於參與，海外投票者現在對民主更有參與感了。」
participation(n.)參與= involvement
Indeed, democracy remains democracy, wherever we are.
的確，無論我們身在何處，民主的本質不應因此改變。
remain(v.)維持=stay in the same conditionwherever=no matter where