Can I Vote

Can I vote? Written by Keith and Sarah Quartamartin. Illustrated by Chris Baldwin.

我可以投票吗？ 作者：基思·夸塔马丁、萨拉·夸塔马丁 绘者：克里斯·鲍德温

Leo stood on tiptoe, looking at the line of people inside the community center. What are all these people doing? he asked his mom. They are here to vote, like us, said his mom. They're all going to help pick the next president? asked Leo. The president and the other people in the government, said his dad.

利奥踮着脚尖，望着社区中心里排着队的人们。 这些人都在做什么呀？他问妈妈。 他们和我们一样，都是来投票的，妈妈说。 他们都要帮忙选出下一任总统吗？利奥问。 还要选总统和其他政府工作人员哦，爸爸说。

Leo and his parents waited in line. As they moved closer to the front, Leo saw several people writing at a table. Are they voting? He asked his parents. Not yet, said his mom. That table is for voter registration. You have to register before you can vote. Your dad and I registered already, so when it's our turn, we can go straight to those booths. She pointed at a row of booths with curtains around them. Then what happens? Leo asked. There's a computer inside the booth, said dad. The computer will record our votes.

利奥和爸爸妈妈一起排队等着。 队伍慢慢往前挪，利奥看到有几个人在一张桌子前写字。 他们是在投票吗？ 他问爸爸妈妈。 还没呢，妈妈说。 那张桌子是用来做选民登记的。 你得先登记，之后才能投票。 我和你爸爸已经登记过啦，所以等轮到我们的时候，我们直接去那些投票间就可以了。 她指着一排围着帘子的投票间。 然后呢？ 利奥问。 投票间里有一台电脑，爸爸说。 电脑会把我们的选票记录下来。

Cool, said Leo. I wish I could vote too. Sorry, Leo, said Mom. You can't vote yet. You'll have to wait until you're eighteen. I know, said Leo. It's not fair. Voting is a big responsibility, said Dad. That's why only adults can vote.

好酷呀，利奥说。我也想去投票。 抱歉哦利奥，妈妈说。 你现在还不能投票， 得等到你满十八岁才行。 我知道，利奥说。这不公平。 投票是一项很重大的责任，爸爸说。 所以只有成年人才可以投票。

They reached the front of the line. Leo's parents went into the booths. As he waited for them, Leo thought, I still want to vote.

他们排到了队伍的最前面。 利奥的爸爸妈妈走进了投票间。 利奥等着他们的时候，心里想：我还是想要投票。