[originaltext]W: Does the Motor Voter Law cover all the states?M: No.W: Which

W: Does the Motor Voter Law cover all the states?
M: No.
W: Which ones? Why not?
M: Six states are not covered by the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act. They are: North Dakota (because this state does not have voter registration); and Minnesota, Wisconsin, Idaho, New Hampshire and Wyoming (because they have election-day registration). The Washington, D.C. coalition which was working to pass this legislation had to compromise in order to get sufficient U.S. Senate votes to pass the bill.
W: Will the Motor Voter Law help disadvantaged groups? If yes, how?
M: Of course. This law helps to reach disadvantaged people in several ways: It requires that all covered states offer voter registration whenever anyone applies for services at state-funded agencies primarily involved in serving people with disabilities. It also requires that all covered states offer voter registration by mail, which means that you don’t have to travel long distances at inconvenient times to find someone who has been certified to be able to register you to vote.
W:  What do you think is the greatest challenge faced by our democracy today in terms of voting?
M: One of the biggest challenges is putting a limit on the amount of money which goes into campaigns. Campaign finance reform. Too much money is allowing the candidates to run their campaigns with 30 second TV spots. They never have to meet people and really address what’s on their minds. People then get frustrated, because the issues are narrow and the candidates don’t speak to their interests.
W: What else?
M:  Another major issue is third-party access. Other parties in addition to the Democrats and the Republicans need to be able to get candidates onto ballots more easily. Third parties will increase competition, increase quality, and increase substance of debates.