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. 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 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
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)
Sept. 10, 2019 CA AB 681 Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
Aug. 27, 2019 NJ S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - House (45 - 14)
Aug. 26, 2019 NJ S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
July 8, 2019 CA SB 27 Requires Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
July 1, 2019 DE HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 8)
June 30, 2019 OR HB 2983 Requires Disclosure of Organizations Giving Certain Monetary Donations to Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
June 30, 2019 OR SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - House (43 - 11)
June 30, 2019 OR SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - House (38 - 17)
June 29, 2019 OR SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
June 29, 2019 OR SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
June 27, 2019 NH HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - House (203 - 142)
June 27, 2019 NH HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
June 27, 2019 PA SB 48 Amends State Election Laws Regarding Straight Party Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
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 19, 2019 NY S 6532 Extends Voter Registration Cutoff Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
June 18, 2019 ME LD 1083 Increases the Use of Ranked Choice Voting "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14)
June 13, 2019 NY S 3822 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Vote in Primary at 17 Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
June 12, 2019 ME LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (77 - 69)
June 10, 2019 ME LD 1463 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
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 3, 2019 ME LD 1626 Establishes a Presidential Primary System in Maine "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 13)
June 1, 2019 IL HB 2625 Requires Subcircuit Judicial Boundary Lines be Redrawn Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 46)
May 30, 2019 NH HB 651 Authorizes the Use of Campaign Funds for Child Care Expenses "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 9)
May 30, 2019 NH HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 11)
May 30, 2019 NH HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
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 AZ SB 1451 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 10)
May 24, 2019 NV SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - House (30 - 9)
May 23, 2019 IL HB 2625 Requires Subcircuit Judicial Boundary Lines be Redrawn Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
May 21, 2019 NV AB 186 Authorizes Nevada to Join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
May 21, 2019 NY S 4347 Limits Corporate Influence and Participation in Political Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
May 21, 2019 NY S 4347 Limits Corporate Influence and Participation in Political Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
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 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
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)
9/10 AB 681 Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
8/27 S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - House (45 - 14)
8/26 S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
7/08 SB 27 Requires Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
7/01 HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 8)
6/30 HB 2983 Requires Disclosure of Organizations Giving Certain Monetary Donations to Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
6/30 SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - House (43 - 11)
6/30 SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - House (38 - 17)
6/29 SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
6/29 SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
6/27 HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - House (203 - 142)
6/27 HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
6/27 SB 48 Amends State Election Laws Regarding Straight Party Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
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)
6/19 S 6532 Extends Voter Registration Cutoff Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
6/18 LD 1083 Increases the Use of Ranked Choice Voting "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 14)
6/13 S 3822 Authorizes Certain Individuals to Vote in Primary at 17 Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 22)
6/12 LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (77 - 69)
6/10 LD 1463 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
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)
6/03 LD 1626 Establishes a Presidential Primary System in Maine "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 13)
6/01 HB 2625 Requires Subcircuit Judicial Boundary Lines be Redrawn Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 46)
5/30 HB 651 Authorizes the Use of Campaign Funds for Child Care Expenses "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (15 - 9)
5/30 HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 11)
5/30 HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
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 1451 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 10)
5/24 SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - House (30 - 9)
5/23 HB 2625 Requires Subcircuit Judicial Boundary Lines be Redrawn Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 19)
5/21 AB 186 Authorizes Nevada to Join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
5/21 S 4347 Limits Corporate Influence and Participation in Political Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
5/21 S 4347 Limits Corporate Influence and Participation in Political Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)

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