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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Dec. 16, 2008 OH SB 380 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
Dec. 11, 2008 MI HB 6610 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (65 - 36)
Dec. 9, 2008 OH SB 380 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
Dec. 4, 2008 MI HB 4090 Expanding Early Voting Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
Aug. 30, 2008 CA AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
July 29, 2008 MA S 2807 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
July 15, 2008 National HR 5803 Backup Paper Ballots Bill Failed - House (248 - 170)
July 9, 2008 MA H 678 National Popular Vote Plan Bill Passed - House (116 - 37)
July 9, 2008 MA Frost Amdt - National Popular Vote Plan Ratification Threshold Bill Failed - House (34 - 120)
July 9, 2008 MA Jones Amdt - Presidential Electors by Congressional District Bill Failed - House (34 - 120)
June 28, 2008 WV HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
June 27, 2008 AZ HCR 2024 Election of Superior Court Judges Resolution Failed - House (24 - 32)
June 26, 2008 WV HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - House (67 - 21)
June 19, 2008 RI S 2112 National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (34 - 28)
June 17, 2008 RI H 7106 Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
June 11, 2008 RI S 2081 Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - House (55 - 9)
May 29, 2008 CA AB 1819 Voter Registration Age Minimum Changes Bill Passed - House (45 - 31)
May 27, 2008 RI S 2081 Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
May 27, 2008 RI S 2112 National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
May 22, 2008 MS SB 2004 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
May 16, 2008 MO SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - House (83 - 72)
May 8, 2008 RI H 7106 Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - House (51 - 11)
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56)
May 6, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 15)
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3)
May 6, 2008 CO HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 27)
May 6, 2008 OK SB 1150 Voter Identification Requirement Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
May 5, 2008 MN Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 1, 2008 IL SJRCA 70 Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19)
April 30, 2008 IL HB 5278 Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements Bill Passed - House (63 - 48)
April 25, 2008 VT S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Failed - House (99 - 51)
April 23, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
April 23, 2008 CO HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
April 23, 2008 DE SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
April 22, 2008 VT S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
April 15, 2008 National HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
April 8, 2008 IL HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
April 7, 2008 MN Voter Registration Training Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 82)
April 7, 2008 MN Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
April 1, 2008 MN Buesgens Amnd. Amendment Prohibiting Grants for Groups Involved in Political Activity Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 69)
April 1, 2008 KY HB 70 Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons Bill Passed - House (80 - 14)
March 31, 2008 CO HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 12, 2008 OK HB 2196 Campaign Finance Restrictions Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
March 12, 2008 IA SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 11, 2008 DE SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
March 10, 2008 OK HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/16 SB 380 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (55 - 43)
12/11 HB 6610 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (65 - 36)
12/09 SB 380 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
12/04 HB 4090 Expanding Early Voting Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
8/30 AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32)
8/29 AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
7/29 S 2807 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
7/15 HR 5803 Backup Paper Ballots Bill Failed - House (248 - 170)
7/09 H 678 National Popular Vote Plan Bill Passed - House (116 - 37)
7/09 Frost Amdt - National Popular Vote Plan Ratification Threshold Bill Failed - House (34 - 120)
7/09 Jones Amdt - Presidential Electors by Congressional District Bill Failed - House (34 - 120)
6/28 HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
6/27 HCR 2024 Election of Superior Court Judges Resolution Failed - House (24 - 32)
6/26 HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - House (67 - 21)
6/19 S 2112 National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (34 - 28)
6/17 H 7106 Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
6/11 S 2081 Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - House (55 - 9)
5/29 AB 1819 Voter Registration Age Minimum Changes Bill Passed - House (45 - 31)
5/27 S 2081 Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
5/27 S 2112 National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
5/22 SB 2004 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
5/16 SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - House (83 - 72)
5/08 H 7106 Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - House (51 - 11)
5/06 HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56)
5/06 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 15)
5/06 HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3)
5/06 HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 27)
5/06 SB 1150 Voter Identification Requirement Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
5/05 Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54)
5/05 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
5/05 HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/01 SJRCA 70 Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19)
4/30 HB 5278 Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements Bill Passed - House (63 - 48)
4/25 S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Failed - House (99 - 51)
4/23 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
4/23 HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
4/23 SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
4/22 S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
4/15 HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
4/08 HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
4/07 Voter Registration Training Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 82)
4/07 Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
4/01 Buesgens Amnd. Amendment Prohibiting Grants for Groups Involved in Political Activity Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 69)
4/01 HB 70 Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons Bill Passed - House (80 - 14)
3/31 HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/19 S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/12 HB 2196 Campaign Finance Restrictions Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
3/12 SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/11 SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
3/10 HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)

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