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
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - House (110 - 33)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13)
Jan. 15, 2019 NY A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - House (107 - 39)
Feb. 21, 2019 CO SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (34 - 29)
Jan. 29, 2019 CO SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 7, 2019 MO HB 445 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - House (103 - 47)
Feb. 21, 2019 NJ S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
March 12, 2019 NM HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
Feb. 1, 2019 NM HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
Sept. 18, 2019 NH HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Veto Override Failed - House (227 - 145)
Feb. 28, 2019 NH HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - House (218 - 123)
March 8, 2019 National HR 1 For the People Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
March 5, 2019 HI SB 216 Requires Ballot Recount Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0)
March 1, 2019 HI HB 210 Establishes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (41 - 9)
March 4, 2019 WA SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
Jan. 30, 2019 WA SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
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 12, 2019 NC SB 214 Exempts Upcoming 2019 Election from Photo ID Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 12, 2019 WA SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 14, 2019 DE SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
March 7, 2019 DE SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
March 29, 2019 ID S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (40 - 30)
March 22, 2019 ID S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 11, 2019 DE HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
March 19, 2019 DE HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - House (34 - 6)
April 3, 2019 ID H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 29, 2019 ID H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
March 18, 2019 AZ SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - House (31 - 27)
Feb. 14, 2019 AZ SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
June 5, 2019 OR SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
April 9, 2019 OR SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Oct. 29, 2019 IL SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - House (74 - 40)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
April 11, 2019 IL SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
April 25, 2019 TN HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
April 15, 2019 TN HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
April 17, 2019 ND HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
April 17, 2019 ND HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
May 21, 2019 NV AB 186 Authorizes Nevada to Join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
April 16, 2019 NV AB 186 Authorizes Nevada to Join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
April 24, 2019 FL HB 7089 Requires Felons to Pay Court Fees Prior to Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
May 30, 2019 NH HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 11)
March 7, 2019 NH HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (198 - 163)
May 2, 2019 CA SB 27 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
June 12, 2019 ME LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (77 - 69)
May 14, 2019 ME LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 30, 2019 NH HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
March 7, 2019 NH HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - House (209 - 155)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
Date No. Title Outcome
1/14 S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - House (110 - 33)
1/14 S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13)
1/15 A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14)
1/14 A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - House (107 - 39)
2/21 SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (34 - 29)
1/29 SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
2/07 HB 445 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - House (103 - 47)
2/21 S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
3/12 HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
2/01 HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
9/18 HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Veto Override Failed - House (227 - 145)
2/28 HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - House (218 - 123)
3/08 HR 1 For the People Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
3/05 SB 216 Requires Ballot Recount Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0)
3/01 HB 210 Establishes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (41 - 9)
3/04 SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
1/30 SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
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)
3/12 SB 214 Exempts Upcoming 2019 Election from Photo ID Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/12 SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/14 SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
3/07 SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
3/29 S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (40 - 30)
3/22 S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/11 HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
3/19 HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - House (34 - 6)
4/03 H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/29 H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
3/18 SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - House (31 - 27)
2/14 SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
6/05 SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (37 - 22)
4/09 SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
10/29 SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - House (74 - 40)
4/10 SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
4/11 SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
4/25 HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
4/15 HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
4/17 HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
4/17 HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
5/21 AB 186 Authorizes Nevada to Join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 8)
4/16 AB 186 Authorizes Nevada to Join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - House (23 - 17)
4/24 HB 7089 Requires Felons to Pay Court Fees Prior to Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
5/30 HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (13 - 11)
3/07 HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (198 - 163)
5/02 SB 27 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
6/12 LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (77 - 69)
5/14 LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/30 HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 10)
3/07 HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - House (209 - 155)
3/28 SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)

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