An e-petition is a proposal put on a website so people can show they support it by adding their name and, very often, an email address. It is the old idea of a petition — a list of names asking those in power to do something — moved online.

An e-petition is a proposal put on a websitee-petition是放在網站上的一項提案 so people can show they support it by adding their name讓人可以加上自己的名字表示支持, and, very often, an email address而且通常還要留電子郵件地址. It is the old idea of a petition它其實是連署這個舊概念 — a list of names asking those in power to do something一份要求當權者做某件事的簽名名單 — moved online搬到了網路上

Governments, campaign groups, and news sites run them. Adding your name is quick, so huge numbers can appear in a day; whether that changes a law is another question, and some people say it can become “click and forget.” The word is normal in news and civic life, a bit official.

Governments, campaign groups, and news sites run them政府、倡議團體和新聞網站都會辦這種連署. Adding your name is quick加上你的名字很快, so huge numbers can appear in a day所以一天內就可能出現很多人; whether that changes a law is another question這會不會真的改變法律又是另一回事, and some people say it can become "click and forget."有些人說這可能變成「點一下就忘了」 The word is normal in news and civic life這個詞在新聞和公民生活裡很常見, a bit official帶點官方的感覺

In speech many people just say online petition.

In speech many people just say online petition口語裡很多人就直接說online petition

You are not voting in an election when you sign; you are putting your name on a public ask.

You are not voting in an election when you sign你簽名的時候不是在選舉投票; you are putting your name on a public ask你是在一個公開的訴求上留名