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
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3)
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56)
Jan. 9, 2008 IL HB 1685 National Popular Vote Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50)
Jan. 3, 2008 NJ A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Jan. 30, 2008 KY SB 3 Primary Elections Date Change Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 7, 2008 NH SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
Feb. 6, 2008 NE LB 39 Restricting Petition Circulation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD SJR 1 Eliminating Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Feb. 14, 2008 LA HB 64 Campaign Disclosures Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
Feb. 19, 2008 GA SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
Jan. 25, 2008 WA HB 1551 Allowing Public Funding for Local Office Campaigns Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI SB 171 Financing of Judicial Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA SB 5628 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
Feb. 6, 2008 NM HB 191 Automatic Absentee Ballots Bill Failed - House (25 - 40)
Feb. 19, 2008 CA GN Borucki Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3)
Feb. 22, 2008 LA SB 3 Restrictions on Gifts to Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (95 - 5)
Feb. 19, 2008 KY SB 148 Regulations for Campaign Financing Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Feb. 19, 2008 KY SFA 1 Presidential Primaries Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 12)
May 16, 2008 MO SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - House (83 - 72)
Feb. 21, 2008 MO SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Feb. 21, 2008 MS SB 2468 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
Feb. 13, 2008 NM HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Feb. 6, 2008 NM HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
Feb. 26, 2008 AL HB 73 Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
March 31, 2008 CO HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 23, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - House (48 - 17)
Feb. 13, 2008 WA SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
March 4, 2008 WA SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - House (51 - 43)
Feb. 20, 2008 WY HB 3 Campaign Finance Reporting Bill Passed - House (44 - 16)
Feb. 28, 2008 WY HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
Feb. 18, 2008 WY HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - House (58 - 2)
March 10, 2008 OK HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
March 12, 2008 IA SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 12, 2008 OK HB 2196 Campaign Finance Restrictions Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
March 5, 2008 SC H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
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)
April 25, 2008 VT S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Failed - House (99 - 51)
April 22, 2008 VT S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 11, 2008 DE SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
April 23, 2008 DE SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
April 8, 2008 IL HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
April 7, 2008 MN Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
April 15, 2008 National HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
April 30, 2008 IL HB 5278 Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements Bill Passed - House (63 - 48)
May 6, 2008 CO HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 27)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/06 HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3)
5/06 HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56)
1/09 HB 1685 National Popular Vote Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50)
1/03 A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
1/30 SB 3 Primary Elections Date Change Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/07 SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
2/06 LB 39 Restricting Petition Circulation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
2/13 SJR 1 Eliminating Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
2/14 HB 64 Campaign Disclosures Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
2/19 SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
1/25 HB 1551 Allowing Public Funding for Local Office Campaigns Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
2/19 SB 171 Financing of Judicial Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/18 SB 5628 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
2/06 HB 191 Automatic Absentee Ballots Bill Failed - House (25 - 40)
2/19 GN Borucki Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3)
2/22 SB 3 Restrictions on Gifts to Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (95 - 5)
2/19 SB 148 Regulations for Campaign Financing Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
2/19 SFA 1 Presidential Primaries Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 12)
5/16 SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - House (83 - 72)
2/21 SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
2/21 SB 2468 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
2/13 HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
2/06 HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
2/26 HB 73 Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/26 SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
2/27 HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
3/31 HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/23 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/27 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - House (48 - 17)
2/13 SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
3/04 SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - House (51 - 43)
2/20 HB 3 Campaign Finance Reporting Bill Passed - House (44 - 16)
2/28 HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
2/18 HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - House (58 - 2)
3/10 HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
3/12 SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/12 HB 2196 Campaign Finance Restrictions Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
3/05 H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
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)
4/25 S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Failed - House (99 - 51)
4/22 S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
3/19 S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/11 SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
4/23 SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
4/08 HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
4/07 Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
4/15 HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
4/30 HB 5278 Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements Bill Passed - House (63 - 48)
5/06 HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 27)

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