確保民主健全
The main goal of a democratic government is to serve the people.
民主政府的主要目標是為人民服務。
objective(n.)目標=purpose=aim
However, citizens also have responsibilities to make sure that democracy stays healthy and is able to serve their needs.
然而，公民也有責任確保民主保持健全，能夠滿足他們的需求。
make sure that…確保～=to see to it that…serve sb’s needs滿足～的需求
Participating in elections is one of the ways that this can be done.
參與選舉是實現這一目標的途徑之一。
participate(v.)參與participate in參與=take part in
The most common way that citizens can participate in elections is through voting to choose the leaders of their national and local governments.
公民參與選舉的最常見方式是投票選舉國家和地方政府的領導人。
have no choice but to V. 別無選擇，只好～
In each democracy, there are different rules for voting.
每個民主國家都有不同的投票規則。
rule(n.)規則、規範=regulation
In Taiwan, for instance, citizens that are over 20 years old are able to vote depending on how long they have stayed in the country or their local area.
例如，在台灣，年滿20歲的公民可以根據他們在國內或當地的居住時間來行使選舉權。
be eligible to V. 有資格做～depending on 取決於depend on取決於=hinge on
The rules are different for national and local elections, but in some cases citizens who live abroad can even return to Taiwan to vote.
全國選舉和地方選舉的規則不同，但在某些情況下，居住在海外的公民甚至可以返回台灣投票。
international(adj.)國際的abroad(adv.)在海外地live abroad住海外work abroad在海外工作
Elections also offer citizens the opportunity to directly participate in democracy by running for office.
選舉也為公民提供了透過競選公職直接參與民主的機會。
offer sb. sth. 提供某人某物=provide sb. with sth.run for office 競選
This allows individual citizens to be elected by others to serve their country or community as a member of the government.
這使得公民個人能夠被他人推舉為政府成員，為自己的國家或社區服務。
enable(v.)使～能夠elect(v.)選舉
In Taiwan, there are different minimum ages for those who can be elected for each level of government, but citizens who are old enough and meet other qualifications have the right to run for office.
在台灣，各級政府公職人員的最低年齡不同，但滿一定年齡並符合其他條件的公民都有權競選公職。
minimum(adj.)最低的、最小的diploma(n.)文憑qualification(n.)資格