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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb. 8, 2010 | NY | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (35 - 26) |
Jan. 20, 2010 | NY | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Bill Passed - House (139 - 2) |
July 6, 2010 | NC | Amdt 2 | Lobbying Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 48) |
May 18, 2010 | LA | Amdt 3107 | Advancing Effective Date of Open Primaries for US Congress Elections | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 14) |
April 19, 2010 | AZ | Burges Amdt | Verification of Presidential Candidate's Birth Certificate | Motion Rejected - House (22 - 31) |
July 27, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (28 - 9) |
July 20, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - House (116 - 34) |
July 15, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
June 2, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
March 24, 2010 | ID | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
March 1, 2010 | ID | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | HB 118 | Prohibiting Lobbyist and Contractor Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
March 18, 2010 | FL | HB 1207 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
May 11, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
April 30, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
June 2, 2010 | NH | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Rejected - House (135 - 184) |
June 2, 2010 | NH | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
July 19, 2010 | WV | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Motion Agreed - House (85 - 5) |
July 17, 2010 | WV | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Motion Rejected - House (51 - 34) |
July 17, 2010 | WV | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Passed - House (46 - 37) |
July 17, 2010 | WV | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Failed - House (42 - 45) |
May 10, 2010 | TN | HB 270 | Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
April 14, 2010 | LA | HB 292 | Open Primaries for Congressional Elections | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
March 3, 2010 | WV | HB 4130 | Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
March 1, 2010 | WV | HB 4646 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
March 1, 2010 | WV | HB 4647 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
Jan. 13, 2010 | OH | HB 5 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (48 - 50) |
Jan. 12, 2010 | TN | HB 614 | Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6183 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6184 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 44) |
June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6186 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6187 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 671 | Evacuee Requirements for Running for Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 24) |
Feb. 10, 2010 | WY | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
Feb. 10, 2010 | KY | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 47) |
July 9, 2010 | NC | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
March 18, 2010 | KY | HB 97 | Moving Back Primary Dates and Filing Deadlines | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 63 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Congressional Term Limits | Resolution Passed - House (56 - 29) |
June 24, 2010 | National | HR 5175 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Bill Passed - House (219 - 206) |
Feb. 2, 2010 | ME | LD 56 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (50 - 95) |
Sept. 23, 2010 | National | S 3628 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 39) |
July 27, 2010 | National | S 3628 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41) |
May 11, 2010 | CO | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
May 11, 2010 | CO | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
March 17, 2010 | GA | SB 406 | Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20) |
Feb. 2, 2010 | KY | SB 53 | Allowing Independents to Vote in Primaries | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
Jan. 25, 2010 | VA | SB 83 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
Aug. 23, 2010 | CA | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
March 1, 2010 | AZ | SCR 1007 | Repealing Legislative Term Limits | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
March 1, 2010 | AZ | SCR 1009 | Repealing Public Funding of Statewide Political Campaigns | Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
April 29, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
April 14, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
June 17, 2010 | MI | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2/08 | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (35 - 26) |
1/20 | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Bill Passed - House (139 - 2) |
7/06 | Amdt 2 | Lobbying Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 48) |
5/18 | Amdt 3107 | Advancing Effective Date of Open Primaries for US Congress Elections | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 14) |
4/19 | Burges Amdt | Verification of Presidential Candidate's Birth Certificate | Motion Rejected - House (22 - 31) |
7/27 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - Senate (28 - 9) |
7/20 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Motion Agreed - House (116 - 34) |
7/15 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
6/02 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
3/24 | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
3/01 | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
2/16 | HB 118 | Prohibiting Lobbyist and Contractor Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
3/18 | HB 1207 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
5/11 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
4/30 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
6/02 | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Rejected - House (135 - 184) |
6/02 | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
7/19 | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Motion Agreed - House (85 - 5) |
7/17 | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Motion Rejected - House (51 - 34) |
7/17 | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Passed - House (46 - 37) |
7/17 | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Failed - House (42 - 45) |
5/10 | HB 270 | Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
4/14 | HB 292 | Open Primaries for Congressional Elections | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
3/03 | HB 4130 | Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
3/01 | HB 4646 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
3/01 | HB 4647 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
1/13 | HB 5 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (48 - 50) |
1/12 | HB 614 | Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
6/22 | HB 6183 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
6/22 | HB 6184 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 44) |
6/22 | HB 6186 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
6/22 | HB 6187 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
6/20 | HB 671 | Evacuee Requirements for Running for Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 24) |
2/10 | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
2/10 | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
7/10 | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 47) |
7/09 | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
3/18 | HB 97 | Moving Back Primary Dates and Filing Deadlines | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
6/09 | HCR 63 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Congressional Term Limits | Resolution Passed - House (56 - 29) |
6/24 | HR 5175 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Bill Passed - House (219 - 206) |
2/02 | LD 56 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (50 - 95) |
9/23 | S 3628 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 39) |
7/27 | S 3628 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41) |
5/11 | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
5/11 | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
3/17 | SB 406 | Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20) |
2/02 | SB 53 | Allowing Independents to Vote in Primaries | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
1/25 | SB 83 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
8/25 | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
8/23 | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Bill Passed - House (48 - 28) |
3/01 | SCR 1007 | Repealing Legislative Term Limits | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
3/01 | SCR 1009 | Repealing Public Funding of Statewide Political Campaigns | Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
4/29 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
4/14 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
6/17 | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |