What is the “National Voter Registration Act”?

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (also known as the "motor voter law") is a federal law which is designed to make it easier for citizens to register to vote and to ensure that more people are able to exercise their right to vote. It was enacted into law by President Bill Clinton, and it affects all fifty states in the United States. The National Voter Registration Act requires states to offer voter registration opportunities at motor vehicle departments, public assistance agencies, disability centers, and military recruitment offices. This is to ensure that any eligible citizen who wants to register to vote is able to do so easily. Additionally, it requires states to offer voter registration services at least twenty days prior to a federal election, and encourages states to maintain an “early voting” period of at least fifteen days prior to a federal election. The National Voter Registration Act also makes it more difficult for states to remove citizens from their voter registration rolls. This is to prevent citizens from being unjustly removed from the rolls and to ensure that every eligible voter is able to participate in the election process. In South Dakota, this law ensures that all citizens have the right to exercise their right to suffrage. The state has embraced the requirements set forth by the National Voter Registration Act, and has even taken steps to make voter registration even more accessible by implementing online voter registration.

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