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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 23, 2009 | VT | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29) |
May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
April 21, 2009 | NV | AB 413 | Presidential Election By National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (27 - 14) |
March 3, 2009 | SC | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
Sept. 22, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Sept. 17, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
June 30, 2009 | RI | H 5005 | Voter Pre-Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
March 10, 2009 | RI | H 5005 | Voter Pre-Registration | Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) |
May 28, 2009 | RI | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
Jan. 14, 2009 | RI | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | |
June 18, 2009 | RI | H 5569 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (28 - 45) |
March 11, 2009 | OK | HB 1037 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
June 9, 2009 | DE | HB 117 | School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
April 21, 2009 | NC | HB 120 | Public Financing for Municipal Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (60 - 56) |
March 17, 2009 | CO | HB 1299 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (34 - 29) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | AR | HB 1339 | Election of the President by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
Jan. 29, 2009 | MT | HB 147 | Revising Campaign Expenditure Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 36) |
April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
April 22, 2009 | WA | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44) |
April 15, 2009 | WA | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
Feb. 11, 2009 | MS | HB 1533 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (78 - 44) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | ND | HB 1576 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (47 - 46) |
Feb. 11, 2009 | OK | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
April 8, 2009 | OK | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
Feb. 25, 2009 | IN | HB 1730 | Exempting Energy Efficient Projects From Referendum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (52 - 48) |
June 24, 2009 | DE | HB 198 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (23 - 12) |
June 15, 2009 | OR | HB 2005 | Petition Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
May 19, 2009 | OR | HB 2005 | Petition Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 7) |
June 3, 2009 | LA | HB 243 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions | Bill Failed - House (38 - 60) |
March 12, 2009 | OR | HB 2588 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (39 - 19) |
Nov. 18, 2009 | OH | HB 260 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
March 11, 2009 | UT | HB 345 | Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
June 15, 2009 | LA | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
May 19, 2009 | LA | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (63 - 26) |
June 18, 2009 | TN | HB 614 | Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 14) |
May 26, 2009 | CT | HB 6435 | Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - House (81 - 65) |
May 12, 2009 | CT | HB 6437 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (76 - 69) |
April 2, 2009 | MO | HB 681 | Special Elections for Statewide Office Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (94 - 63) |
May 31, 2009 | IL | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46) |
May 28, 2009 | IL | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
March 17, 2009 | IA | HF 670 | Early Absentee Vote Counting | Bill Passed - House (76 - 22) |
Oct. 15, 2009 | IL | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1) |
May 30, 2009 | IL | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
Sept. 17, 2009 | National | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Motion Agreed - House (345 - 75) |
Sept. 17, 2009 | National | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
Feb. 26, 2009 | National | S 160 | Washington DC Voting Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
Feb. 27, 2009 | VT | S 34 | Presidential Election by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 10) |
Sept. 14, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2355 | Prohibiting Funding for ACORN | Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7) |
March 21, 2009 | NM | SB 116 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - House (49 - 17) |
June 16, 2009 | TN | SB 162 | Creation of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
Feb. 6, 2009 | MT | SB 187 | Limitations on Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
Feb. 10, 2009 | MT | SB 243 | Majority Vote Requirement for General Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27) |
Feb. 5, 2009 | UT | SB 25 | Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (58 - 14) |
Feb. 4, 2009 | MS | SB 2548 | Identification Requirements to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
March 17, 2009 | NM | SB 263 | Requiring State Contractors to Disclose Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
March 11, 2009 | TX | SB 362 | Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
Feb. 20, 2009 | MT | SB 394 | Expanding Mail Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
March 10, 2009 | OK | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
April 1, 2009 | OK | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
March 12, 2009 | WA | SB 5599 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
April 15, 2009 | WA | SB 5599 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (52 - 42) |
Dec. 9, 2009 | OH | SB 8 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SB 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
Jan. 26, 2009 | VA | SB 810 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
April 3, 2009 | GA | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
April 3, 2009 | GA | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (140 - 67) |
June 2, 2009 | CT | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (107 - 37) |
May 29, 2009 | CT | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
April 29, 2009 | ND | SCR 4038 | Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
March 3, 2009 | WY | SF 12 | Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit | Bill Failed - House (30 - 30) |
Jan. 21, 2009 | WY | SF 12 | Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
May 11, 2009 | MN | SF 1331 | Changing Early Voting and Special Election Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | VA | SJ 273 | Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | VA | SJ 354 | Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19) |
March 5, 2009 | SD | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Bill Failed - House (17 - 49) |
Feb. 9, 2009 | SD | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
Sept. 23, 2009 | OH | SJR 5 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
3/23 | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
5/21 | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29) |
5/21 | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
5/21 | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
4/21 | AB 413 | Presidential Election By National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (27 - 14) |
3/03 | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
9/22 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
9/17 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
6/30 | H 5005 | Voter Pre-Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
3/10 | H 5005 | Voter Pre-Registration | Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) |
5/28 | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
1/14 | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | |
6/18 | H 5569 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (28 - 45) |
3/11 | HB 1037 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
6/09 | HB 117 | School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
4/21 | HB 120 | Public Financing for Municipal Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (60 - 56) |
3/17 | HB 1299 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (34 - 29) |
2/25 | HB 1339 | Election of the President by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
1/29 | HB 147 | Revising Campaign Expenditure Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 36) |
4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
4/22 | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44) |
4/15 | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
2/11 | HB 1533 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (78 - 44) |
2/09 | HB 1576 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (47 - 46) |
2/11 | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
4/08 | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
2/25 | HB 1730 | Exempting Energy Efficient Projects From Referendum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (52 - 48) |
6/24 | HB 198 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (23 - 12) |
6/15 | HB 2005 | Petition Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
5/19 | HB 2005 | Petition Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 7) |
6/03 | HB 243 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions | Bill Failed - House (38 - 60) |
3/12 | HB 2588 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (39 - 19) |
11/18 | HB 260 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
3/11 | HB 345 | Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
6/15 | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
5/19 | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (63 - 26) |
6/18 | HB 614 | Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 14) |
5/26 | HB 6435 | Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - House (81 - 65) |
5/12 | HB 6437 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (76 - 69) |
4/02 | HB 681 | Special Elections for Statewide Office Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (94 - 63) |
5/31 | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46) |
5/28 | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
3/17 | HF 670 | Early Absentee Vote Counting | Bill Passed - House (76 - 22) |
10/15 | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1) |
5/30 | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
9/17 | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Motion Agreed - House (345 - 75) |
9/17 | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
2/26 | S 160 | Washington DC Voting Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
2/27 | S 34 | Presidential Election by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 10) |
9/14 | S Amdt 2355 | Prohibiting Funding for ACORN | Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7) |
3/21 | SB 116 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - House (49 - 17) |
6/16 | SB 162 | Creation of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
2/06 | SB 187 | Limitations on Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
2/10 | SB 243 | Majority Vote Requirement for General Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27) |
2/05 | SB 25 | Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (58 - 14) |
2/04 | SB 2548 | Identification Requirements to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
3/17 | SB 263 | Requiring State Contractors to Disclose Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
3/11 | SB 362 | Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
2/20 | SB 394 | Expanding Mail Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
3/10 | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
4/01 | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
3/12 | SB 5599 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
4/15 | SB 5599 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (52 - 42) |
12/09 | SB 8 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
2/02 | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
2/02 | SB 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
1/26 | SB 810 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
4/03 | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
4/03 | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (140 - 67) |
6/02 | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (107 - 37) |
5/29 | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
4/29 | SCR 4038 | Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
3/03 | SF 12 | Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit | Bill Failed - House (30 - 30) |
1/21 | SF 12 | Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
5/11 | SF 1331 | Changing Early Voting and Special Election Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27) |
2/09 | SJ 273 | Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
2/09 | SJ 354 | Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19) |
3/05 | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Bill Failed - House (17 - 49) |
2/09 | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
9/23 | SJR 5 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |