Key Votes

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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:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 6, 2019 National HR 4 Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (228 - 187)
Nov. 13, 2019 OH HB 272 Prohibits State Officials From Changing the Time and Place of an Election Bill Passed - House (91 - 0)
Oct. 30, 2019 NC SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 51)
Oct. 29, 2019 PA SB 421 Establishes Mail-In Voting Bill Passed - House (138 - 61)
Oct. 29, 2019 IL SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - House (74 - 40)
Oct. 24, 2019 OH HB 76 Establishes the Ballot Uniformity and Transparency Act for Tax Levies Bill Passed - House (54 - 39)
Oct. 23, 2019 National HR 4617 Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 181)
Sept. 18, 2019 NH HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Veto Override Failed - House (227 - 145)
Sept. 13, 2019 CA AB 681 Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 13)
Aug. 27, 2019 NJ S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - House (45 - 14)
July 8, 2019 CA SB 27 Requires Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
June 30, 2019 OR SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - House (38 - 17)
June 30, 2019 OR SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - House (43 - 11)
June 27, 2019 NH HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - House (203 - 142)
June 27, 2019 PA SB 48 Amends State Election Laws Regarding Straight Party Voting Bill Passed - House (111 - 88)
June 27, 2019 National HR 2722 Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act Bill Passed - House (225 - 184)
June 20, 2019 NY S 6532 Extends Voter Registration Cutoff Bill Passed - House (106 - 41)
June 19, 2019 ME LD 1083 Increases the Use of Ranked Choice Voting "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (86 - 59)
June 12, 2019 ME LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (77 - 69)
June 6, 2019 OR HB 2983 Requires Disclosure of Organizations Giving Certain Monetary Donations to Campaigns Bill Passed - House (39 - 17)
June 5, 2019 OR SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
June 5, 2019 ME LD 1463 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (88 - 56)
June 4, 2019 ME LD 1626 Establishes a Presidential Primary System in Maine "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (88 - 53)
June 1, 2019 IL HB 2625 Requires Subcircuit Judicial Boundary Lines be Redrawn Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 46)
May 28, 2019 IL SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
May 28, 2019 CT HB 7160 Authorizes Voting Access to Parolees Bill Passed - House (84 - 60)
May 24, 2019 AZ SB 1451 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 29)
May 24, 2019 NV SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - House (30 - 9)
May 3, 2019 FL SB 7066 Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 42)
May 3, 2019 FL HB 5 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 43)
May 3, 2019 CO HB 19-1318 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 24)
May 2, 2019 CO SB 19-235 Expands Automatic Voter Registration System Bill Passed - House (40 - 23)
May 2, 2019 ME LD 431 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (74 - 69)
April 30, 2019 CO HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 27)
April 29, 2019 MO HJR 48 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Amend Campaign Finance and State Election Laws Bill Passed - House (104 - 49)
April 24, 2019 FL HB 7089 Requires Felons to Pay Court Fees Prior to Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
April 16, 2019 NV AB 186 Authorizes Nevada to Join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
April 15, 2019 TN HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
April 10, 2019 CO HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - House (45 - 19)
March 29, 2019 ID S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (40 - 30)
March 29, 2019 ID H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
March 25, 2019 ID S 1113 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - House (52 - 15)
March 19, 2019 DE HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - House (34 - 6)
March 18, 2019 AZ SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - House (31 - 27)
March 14, 2019 UT HB 119 Increases Ballot Initiative Voter Referendum Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 12)
March 14, 2019 DE SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
March 14, 2019 National H Con Res 24 Expressing the sense of Congress that the report of Special Counsel Mueller should be made available to the public and to Congress. Bill Passed - House (420 - 0)
March 13, 2019 UT HB 145 Amends Initiative and Referendum Provisions and Nomination Petition Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 21)
March 9, 2019 WV SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 42)
March 8, 2019 National HR 1 For the People Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
March 7, 2019 NH HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (198 - 163)
March 7, 2019 NH HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - House (209 - 155)
March 4, 2019 WA SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
March 1, 2019 HI HB 210 Establishes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (41 - 9)
Feb. 28, 2019 NH HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - House (218 - 123)
Feb. 23, 2019 VA HJR 615 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 15)
Feb. 21, 2019 CO SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (34 - 29)
Feb. 19, 2019 VA SB 1026 Authorizes No-Excuse Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (89 - 10)
Feb. 7, 2019 MO HB 445 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - House (103 - 47)
Feb. 1, 2019 NM HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
Jan. 31, 2019 MT HB 245 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
Jan. 29, 2019 SD HB 1027 Amends Election Day Voting Laws Related to Voting Centers and Precinct Workers Bill Passed - House (50 - 20)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - House (110 - 33)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - House (114 - 32)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Failed - House (133 - 13)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - House (107 - 39)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/06 HR 4 Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (228 - 187)
11/13 HB 272 Prohibits State Officials From Changing the Time and Place of an Election Bill Passed - House (91 - 0)
10/30 SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 51)
10/29 SB 421 Establishes Mail-In Voting Bill Passed - House (138 - 61)
10/29 SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - House (74 - 40)
10/24 HB 76 Establishes the Ballot Uniformity and Transparency Act for Tax Levies Bill Passed - House (54 - 39)
10/23 HR 4617 Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 181)
9/18 HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Veto Override Failed - House (227 - 145)
9/13 AB 681 Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 13)
8/27 S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - House (45 - 14)
7/08 SB 27 Requires Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
6/30 SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - House (38 - 17)
6/30 SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - House (43 - 11)
6/27 HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - House (203 - 142)
6/27 SB 48 Amends State Election Laws Regarding Straight Party Voting Bill Passed - House (111 - 88)
6/27 HR 2722 Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act Bill Passed - House (225 - 184)
6/20 S 6532 Extends Voter Registration Cutoff Bill Passed - House (106 - 41)
6/19 LD 1083 Increases the Use of Ranked Choice Voting "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (86 - 59)
6/12 LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (77 - 69)
6/06 HB 2983 Requires Disclosure of Organizations Giving Certain Monetary Donations to Campaigns Bill Passed - House (39 - 17)
6/05 SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
6/05 LD 1463 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (88 - 56)
6/04 LD 1626 Establishes a Presidential Primary System in Maine "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (88 - 53)
6/01 HB 2625 Requires Subcircuit Judicial Boundary Lines be Redrawn Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 46)
5/28 SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - House (69 - 45)
5/28 HB 7160 Authorizes Voting Access to Parolees Bill Passed - House (84 - 60)
5/24 SB 1451 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Conference Report Adopted - House (31 - 29)
5/24 SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - House (30 - 9)
5/03 SB 7066 Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 42)
5/03 HB 5 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 43)
5/03 HB 19-1318 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 24)
5/02 SB 19-235 Expands Automatic Voter Registration System Bill Passed - House (40 - 23)
5/02 LD 431 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (74 - 69)
4/30 HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 27)
4/29 HJR 48 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Amend Campaign Finance and State Election Laws Bill Passed - House (104 - 49)
4/24 HB 7089 Requires Felons to Pay Court Fees Prior to Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
4/16 AB 186 Authorizes Nevada to Join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
4/15 HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
4/10 HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - House (45 - 19)
3/29 S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (40 - 30)
3/29 H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
3/25 S 1113 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - House (52 - 15)
3/19 HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - House (34 - 6)
3/18 SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - House (31 - 27)
3/14 HB 119 Increases Ballot Initiative Voter Referendum Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 12)
3/14 SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
3/14 H Con Res 24 Expressing the sense of Congress that the report of Special Counsel Mueller should be made available to the public and to Congress. Bill Passed - House (420 - 0)
3/13 HB 145 Amends Initiative and Referendum Provisions and Nomination Petition Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 21)
3/09 SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 42)
3/08 HR 1 For the People Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
3/07 HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (198 - 163)
3/07 HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - House (209 - 155)
3/04 SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
3/01 HB 210 Establishes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (41 - 9)
2/28 HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - House (218 - 123)
2/23 HJR 615 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 15)
2/21 SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (34 - 29)
2/19 SB 1026 Authorizes No-Excuse Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (89 - 10)
2/07 HB 445 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - House (103 - 47)
2/01 HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
1/31 HB 245 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
1/29 HB 1027 Amends Election Day Voting Laws Related to Voting Centers and Precinct Workers Bill Passed - House (50 - 20)
1/14 S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - House (110 - 33)
1/14 A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - House (114 - 32)
1/14 A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Failed - House (133 - 13)
1/14 A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - House (107 - 39)

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