“…we got a new campaign finance reform law. But it’s got a big loophole in it called 527s. And in effect what it allows is for groups, as long as they’re not affiliated with a candidate, can go out and raise money—soft dollars, which were banned from being used for state parties and national party organizations—go out and raise soft dollars, meaning individuals can write million-dollar checks if they want…And they can say anything they want, put commercials on television, which they do endlessly attacking one or the other of the parties...We either ought to have a campaign finance reform law that is sensible and fair to everybody, or the other option, frankly, would be one where you eliminate all the limits, just have total disclosure and get government out of the business of trying to regulate elections, but have total instantaneous disclosure, say, within 24 hours so the voters get to decide who is getting what, and whether or not they’re abusing the process. But right now today, it’s not working, and that’s a big part of our problem is the 527s, rather than the individual campaigns on both sides.”
(Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040806-15.html)

“I just don't think it's going to work, you know, compulsory voting. I wish everybody would vote. But it's a right. It's a right. It's like the right to worship the way you want to worship. It's a right. I just don't think compulsory voting would work. I'm not sure what the penalty is.
“...thanks for bringing this up because it gives me a chance to remind people about their solemn duty, in my judgment, to go to the polls. Of course, I want everybody to be for me. I know it's not going to be the case, but I'm still urging people to vote. I want there to be widespread voter participation. It is – here we are working in Afghanistan, convincing the people of Afghanistan to go vote; we ought to be doing the same thing in our country.”
(Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040714-11.html)

“The vitality of America's democracy depends on the fairness and accuracy of America's elections. Over two centuries our country has broadened the right to vote and sealed that right in law, making our government more accountable to the people, and more representative of the people. When problems arise in the administration of elections we have a responsibility to fix them. Every registered voter deserves to have confidence that the system is fair and elections are honest, that every vote is recorded, and that the rules are consistently applied. The legislation I sign today will add to the nation's confidence.”
(Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021029-1.html)