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阿拉伯裔美国人积极参加投票

Arab-Americans make up roughly 0.5 percent of voters who will cast a ballot¹ in the November general election in the United States. Influence is growing in Dearborn, Michigan - home to the largest Arab-American community in the United States. Arab-American community leaders expect record voter turnout in November.

预计在美国11月大选中投票的阿拉伯裔美国人只占全部选民的大约百分之0.5，虽然比例较小，但他们的影响力在扩大。密西根州拥有最大的阿拉伯裔美国人社区。当地的社区领袖认为，这次总统选举，阿拉伯裔美国人的投票率会非常高。

Imam Hassan Qazwini had not witnessed a peaceful transition of power of government growing up in Iraq. His first such experience came in the United States. “When I came and saw the peaceful transition of power from one President to another that was very impressive actually, and promising² as well,” he said.

密西根州蒂尔伯恩的美国伊斯兰中心的阿訇哈桑.卡兹维尼在伊拉克长大，从未见过政府权力和平过渡，这次美国大选是他第一次亲身经历。他说：“我来到美国，看到总统权力和平交接，这给人留下了很深的印象，令人觉得很有希望。”

That promise has encouraged others to come from war torn and unstable³ countries to start new lives in the United States.

正是这种希望激励着许多人从战乱的国家来到美国，开始新的生活。

Imam Qazwini, now the leader of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, says members of the fastest growing religion in the United States - Islam - are also part of a voting bloc⁴ whose influence is steadily⁵ growing with each election. “I think in this upcoming election, I believe we will witness the highest Arab-American, Muslim-American participation⁶,” he stated.

卡兹维尼说，伊斯兰教是美国发展最快的一种宗教，信徒很快增加，影响力也不断扩大。他说：“在11月的大选中，我们会看到阿拉伯裔美国人，美国穆斯林的投票率空前地高。”

That expected turnout is, in part, thanks to the efforts of people like Rachid Elabed.

预计中的高投票率，是因为有埃拉比德这样的人的大力推动。

As an Advocacy and Civic⁷ Engagement Specialist with the non-profit Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, also known as ACCESS, part of Elabed’s work is registering new U.S. citizens to vote.

埃拉比德是非赢利的阿拉伯社区经济和社会服务中心的公民参与专家，他的一项工作是为新公民注册登记。

He admits there are challenges in explaining U.S. voting procedures to immigrants.

埃拉比德承认，向新移民解释美国的投票程序有许多挑战。

“They don’t understand they have the freedom of speech, freedom to vote, they are new to the process," Elabed explained. "And get intimidated⁸ and very scared because they’re not sure what to do and where to get their information.”

他说：“新移民不了解自己有言论自由、投票自由。他们刚接触这个过程，有点畏惧，非常害怕，因为他们不确定做什么，从哪获取信息。”

Some of that information comes from publications like the Arab-American News, run by Dearborn publisher Osama Siblani. “We come from countries that are governed by dictators and totalitarian regimes," he said. "So when you come here you have to give people time to start acclimating⁹ themselves to the idea of democracy - that you go out to vote and register to vote.”

有些信息来自“阿拉伯裔美国人新闻”这样的刊物，这家杂志的发行人奥萨马.斯博拉尼说：“我们来自独裁者和极权主义政权统治的国家，来到美国后，要给人们一段时间来吸收民主的思想，那就是你要投票，要登记投票。”

One of the key concepts Rachid Elabed tries to convey to new voters is the importance of their participation in an election, despite the knowledge that Arab-Americans make up a small percentage of the voting public. “The percentage can make a difference in the election,”Elabed said.

埃拉比德努力向新选民传递的主要概念之一是他们参与选举的重要性，尽管阿拉伯裔美国人只占选民的很小比例。他说：“在今年的选举中，这个比例能起作用。”

A difference that Imam Qazwini says favors President Obama in this year’s Presidential election. “Most Arab-Americans feel that Obama would be their primary choice," he added. "One - they find in him the most reasonable candidate.”

阿訇卡兹维尼说，在今年的总统选举中，这个比例是倾向于奥巴马总统的。他说：“多数阿拉伯裔美国人感觉奥巴马是他们的主要选择。一个原因是，他们发现他是最适合的候选人。”

But he is a candidate who is currently President in a country where unemployment is still very high. Michigan’s unemployment numbers are higher than the national average. Jobs are one of the most important issues to all voters, including Arab-Americans, and it is expected to be the defining issue in this year’s presidential race.

但是，美国的失业率仍然非常高。密西根州的失业率高于全国的平均指数。就业对所有选民，包括阿拉伯裔美国人来说是最重要的议题之一，预计也是今年总统选举的决定性议题。