Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 7, 2023 | WA | SB 5112 | Amends the Voter Registration Process | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
March 23, 2021 | IN | SB 260 | Authorizes 16 or 17 Year-Olds to Serve as a Precinct Election Officers on Election Day | Bill Passed - House (58 - 36) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1238 | Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting | Bill Passed - House (57 - 51) |
June 17, 2021 | CT | SB 1202 | Extends Convicted Felons' Voting Rights if They are Committed to Confinement | Bill Passed - House (89 - 50) |
Feb. 22, 2021 | VA | SB 1148 | Amends the Primary Election Date | Bill Passed - House (82 - 18) |
Feb. 22, 2021 | VA | SB 1097 | Rescinds the Mandate for a Witness Signature on Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - House (55 - 45) |
April 26, 2023 | OK | SB 375 | Amends Date for Upcoming Primary Elections and Deadlines for Declaring Candidacy | Bill Passed - House (83 - 7) |
April 6, 2023 | MD | SB 379 | Expands Absentee Ballot Deadline | Bill Passed - House (99 - 36) |
July 8, 2019 | CA | SB 27 | Requires Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates to Release Tax Returns | Bill Passed - House (57 - 17) |
June 3, 2015 | NH | SB 179 | Amends Residency Requirement for Voter Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (211 - 145) |
March 26, 2021 | MT | SB 196 | Authorizes Voting Precincts with Less than 400 In-Person Voters to Open at Noon | Bill Passed - House (67 - 31) |
April 4, 2022 | GA | SB 441 | Authorizes Georgia Bureau of Investigation to Investigate Claims of Election Fraud | Bill Passed - House (98 - 69) |
March 26, 2021 | MT | SB 169 | Prohibits Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (65 - 33) |
Feb. 19, 2019 | VA | SB 1026 | Authorizes No-Excuse Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - House (89 - 10) |
April 13, 2021 | IN | SB 353 | Requires Presenting Valid Identification to Request an Absentee Ballot Online | Bill Passed - House (71 - 23) |
June 28, 2021 | CA | SB 152 | Authorizes a Recall Election without the Approval of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee | Bill Passed - House (59 - 19) |
Nov. 18, 2021 | NC | SB 725 | Prohibits County Boards of Elections from Accepting Private Donations to Administer Election Services | Bill Passed - House (63 - 48) |
Feb. 17, 2022 | NM | SB 144 | Prohibits Intimidation of Elections Officials | Bill Passed - House (39 - 30) |
Dec. 20, 2018 | MI | SB 1239 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (60 - 48) |
June 5, 2018 | NC | SB 757 | Requires Judicial Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (70 - 45) |
May 24, 2021 | TX | SB 1113 | Authorizes the Secretary of State's Office to Withhold Funding from County Election Officials | Bill Passed - House (97 - 46) |
June 21, 2013 | TX | SB 3 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (93 - 46) |
Nov. 9, 2023 | MI | SB 374 | Requires Candidates for Public Office File Financial Disclosure Reports Before Assuming Office | Bill Passed - House (56 - 53) |
June 22, 2021 | WI | SB 212 | Authorizes Only Voters to Correct Absentee Ballot Defects | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
June 22, 2021 | WI | SB 203 | Limits the Return of of Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
April 8, 2022 | MD | SB 163 | Amends Laws Relating to Ballot Processing and Procedures for Absentee and Provisional Ballots | Bill Passed - House (94 - 41) |
April 7, 2022 | AL | SB 313 | Prohibits the Use of Public Funds for Ballot Initiatives | Bill Passed - House (73 - 26) |
Aug. 23, 2022 | CA | SB 1360 | Amends the California Election Code to Require Transparency of Contributors and Advertisements | Bill Passed - House (62 - 10) |
May 2, 2023 | MT | SB 254 | Restructures General Election Laws in Montana | Bill Passed - House (58 - 37) |
May 7, 2021 | TX | SB 7 | Prohibits Election Officials from Mailing Unsolicited Ballots | Bill Passed - House (78 - 64) |
April 9, 2021 | HI | SB 159 | Requires Automatic Voter Registration When Receiving Driver's Licenses | Bill Passed - House (49 - 1) |
March 25, 2021 | GA | SB 202 | Amends Election Laws | Bill Passed - House (100 - 74) |
April 20, 2021 | AZ | SB 1485 | Rescinds Voters From the Early Ballots Mailing List | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
June 6, 2017 | NC | SB 655 | Establishes New Primary Election Dates | Bill Passed - House (71 - 46) |
March 5, 2020 | WA | SB 6313 | Authorizes 16 and 17 Year Olds to Opt Out of the Automatic Voter Pre-Registration Process | Bill Passed - House (56 - 41) |
Oct. 22, 2020 | LA | SB 20 | Amends Election Laws Due to the Declared Disaster Emergency | Bill Passed - House (59 - 27) |
May 15, 2023 | AZ | SB 1332 | Requires the Publication of Certain Cast Vote Records | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |
Feb. 22, 2022 | IN | SB 134 | Limits Private Donations to Local Governments | Bill Passed - House (67 - 25) |
Sept. 24, 2020 | MI | SB 977 | Increases the Punishment for Fraudulent Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - House (77 - 26) |
Sept. 24, 2020 | MI | SB 117 | Authorizes Active-Duty Overseas Military Voters to Vote Electronically | Bill Passed - House (88 - 17) |
March 4, 2022 | FL | SB 102 | Establishes State Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (67 - 47) |
Sept. 24, 2020 | MI | SB 757 | Authorizes Cities With Over 25,000 Residents to Begin Processing Absentee Ballots the Day Before an Election | Bill Passed - House (94 - 11) |
Sept. 28, 2022 | MI | SB 311 | Authorizes Active Military Members to Vote Electronically | Bill Passed - House (98 - 6) |
April 21, 2017 | MT | SB 368 | Increases the Individual Limit for Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (54 - 46) |
March 13, 2013 | AR | SB 2 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (51 - 44) |
March 10, 2022 | VA | SB 652 | Amends Requirements for Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - House (52 - 47) |
March 27, 2023 | GA | SB 222 | Requires All Election Expenses be Paid for with State Public Funds | Bill Passed - House (100 - 69) |
April 17, 2013 | MT | SB 405 | Repeals Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (58 - 42) |
March 20, 2013 | OH | SB 47 | Prohibits Collection of Petition Signatures after Filing | Bill Passed - House (57 - 38) |
March 28, 2015 | MT | SB 289 | Requires Certain Political Groups to Disclose Expenditures | Bill Passed - House (51 - 48) |
March 11, 2013 | KY | SB 1 | Establishes an Electronic Ballot Transmission System for Military and Overseas Voters | Bill Passed - House (57 - 42) |
June 27, 2018 | NC | SB 813 | Requires the Redistricting of Asheville City Council Districts | Bill Passed - House (64 - 52) |
June 1, 2017 | NH | SB 3 | Establishes New Voter Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - House (191 - 162) |
March 7, 2023 | MS | SB 2358 | Prohibits a Third-Party From Collecting and Delivering Somebody Else's Absentee Ballot | Bill Passed - House (73 - 44) |
March 23, 2023 | GA | SB 129 | Requires Employees Get Time Off to Vote | Bill Passed - House (161 - 9) |
May 21, 2020 | IL | SB 1863 | Expands Absentee Voting for the Upcoming General Election | Bill Passed - House (72 - 43) |
May 6, 2024 | CO | SB 24-210 | Amends Various Election Laws Including Delaying Implementation of State Ranked Choice Voting | Bill Passed - House (53 - 9) |
April 17, 2013 | MT | SB 408 | Limits General Election Candidates to Top 2 From Primary Election | Bill Passed - House (57 - 43) |
March 30, 2023 | NJ | S 2866 | Establishes the Elections Transparency Act | Bill Passed - House (45 - 31) |
Dec. 16, 2015 | MI | SB 571 | Amends Ballot Advertising Restrictions | Bill Passed - House (58 - 48) |
March 7, 2024 | WV | SB 542 | Specifies Vacancy Protocols for County Commissions | Bill Passed - House (95 - 3) |
March 30, 2023 | NJ | S 2866 | Establishes the Elections Transparency Act | Bill Passed - House (45 - 31) |
Feb. 19, 2014 | OH | SB 205 | Amends Absentee Ballot Voting Laws | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
May 15, 2023 | AZ | SB 1471 | Requires Hand Tabulation for Ballots | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |
Sept. 11, 2023 | CA | SB 314 | Establishes an Independent Citizen's Redistricting Commission in Sacramento County | Bill Passed - House (62 - 18) |
May 15, 2023 | AZ | SB 1598 | Amends Rules Concerning Election Observers | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |
May 15, 2023 | AZ | SB 1595 | Amends Rules Concerning Early Ballot ID Requirements | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |
March 5, 2024 | OR | SB 1571 | Requires Disclosure of AI in Political Campaign Advertisements | Bill Passed - House (52 - 3) |
May 25, 2023 | IL | SB 2123 | Amends Various State Election Laws | Bill Passed - House (36 - 18) |
Sept. 30, 2021 | MI | HB 4492 | Expands Polling Place Locations | Bill Passed - House (84 - 21) |
June 9, 2011 | ME | LD 1376 | Repeals Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (72 - 65) |
Nov. 7, 2011 | NC | HB 777 | State House Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (62 - 49) |
Jan. 31, 2013 | KS | HB 2023 | Prohibits Manditory Labor Organizational Fees for Political Purposes | Bill Passed - House (68 - 56) |
Feb. 20, 2013 | VA | SB 1256 | Requires Photo Identification for Voting | Bill Passed - House (65 - 34) |
March 22, 2013 | ID | S 1108 | Increases Petition Signature Requirements | Bill Passed - House (45 - 21) |
April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 548 | Encourages Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance | Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 31) |
March 21, 2013 | NJ | S 2364 | Requires Early Voting to be Available for Certain Elections | Bill Passed - House (46 - 31) |
June 21, 2013 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (93 - 47) |
June 21, 2013 | TX | SB 2 | State Senate Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (109 - 30) |
March 20, 2014 | WI | SB 324 | Amends the Absentee Voting Procedures | Bill Passed - House (56 - 38) |
March 25, 2014 | NY | S 3149 | Requires the President to be Elected by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (102 - 33) |
May 6, 2014 | CT | SB 455 | Amends the Funding for the Public Campaign Finance Program | Bill Passed - House (102 - 40) |
May 5, 2014 | MO | SB 892 | Amends Presidential Primary Dates | Bill Passed - House (101 - 47) |
March 20, 2014 | WI | SB 655 | Amends Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws | Bill Passed - House (54 - 37) |
Aug. 11, 2014 | FL | SB 2-A | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - House (71 - 38) |
Feb. 23, 2015 | NJ | S 2430 | Requires Disclosure of Political Contributions | Bill Passed - House (53 - 15) |
April 1, 2015 | NC | SB 181 | Requires the Redistricting of Wake County | Bill Passed - House (66 - 47) |
Feb. 19, 2016 | NC | SB 2 | Amends Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (65 - 43) |
March 29, 2016 | AZ | SB 1516 | Repeals Certain Campaign Finance Reforms | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |
March 16, 2017 | NJ | S 3048 | Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns | Bill Passed - House (49 - 25) |
March 28, 2018 | MD | SB 1048 | Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (93 - 46) |
June 28, 2018 | CA | SB 1171 | Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (53 - 23) |
Dec. 5, 2018 | WI | SB 884 | Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General | Bill Passed - House (56 - 27) |
Jan. 14, 2019 | NY | S 1102 | Establishes Early Voting Period | Bill Passed - House (110 - 33) |
Feb. 21, 2019 | CO | SB 19-042 | Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (34 - 29) |
March 3, 2018 | OR | SB 1510 | Amends Election Laws | Bill Passed - House (35 - 23) |
March 4, 2019 | WA | SB 5273 | Amends Presidential Primary Dates | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
March 14, 2019 | DE | SB 22 | Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (24 - 17) |
March 29, 2019 | ID | S 1159 | Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements | Bill Passed - House (40 - 30) |
March 18, 2019 | AZ | SB 1072 | Requires Identification for Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (31 - 27) |