National Elections 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. 23, 2022 National HR 2617 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (225 - 201)
Dec. 22, 2022 National HR 2617 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
Sept. 21, 2022 National HR 8873 Presidential Election Reform Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 203)
Sept. 21, 2022 National HR 8873 Presidential Election Reform Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 203)
Jan. 19, 2022 National HR 5746 Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 48)
Jan. 13, 2022 National HR 5746 Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 203)
Dec. 7, 2021 National HR 5314 Protecting Our Democracy Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 208)
Oct. 20, 2021 National S 2747 Freedom to Vote Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51)
Aug. 24, 2021 National HR 4 John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (219 - 212)
Aug. 24, 2021 National H Res 601 Providing for consideration of (H.R. 4) John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to (H.R. 3684) Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; and providing for the adoption of the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 14); and for other purposes Resolution Passed - House (220 - 212)
June 22, 2021 National S 2093 For the People Act of 2021 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 50)
March 3, 2021 National HR 1 For the People Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (220 - 210)
Sept. 29, 2020 National H Res 1155 Reaffirming the House of Representatives' commitment to the orderly and peaceful transfer of power called for in the Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (397 - 5)
Dec. 6, 2019 National HR 4 Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (228 - 187)
Oct. 23, 2019 National HR 4617 Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 181)
June 27, 2019 National HR 2722 Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act Bill Passed - House (225 - 184)
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 8, 2019 National HR 1 For the People Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
Sept. 11, 2014 National S J Res 19 A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Contributions and Expenditures Intended to Affect Elections Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
Dec. 11, 2013 National HR 2019 Kids First Research Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (295 - 103)
Sept. 19, 2012 National HR 5912 Prohibits Public Funding for Political Party Conventions Bill Passed - House (310 - 95)
July 17, 2012 National S 3369 DISCLOSE Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
Dec. 1, 2011 National HR 3463 Repeals Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns Bill Passed - House (235 - 190)
Jan. 26, 2011 National HR 359 Abolishing Federal Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns Bill Passed - House (239 - 160)
Sept. 23, 2010 National S 3628 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 39)
July 27, 2010 National S 3628 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
June 24, 2010 National HR 5175 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Bill Passed - House (219 - 206)
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)
Sept. 14, 2009 National S Amdt 2355 Prohibiting Funding for ACORN Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7)
Feb. 26, 2009 National S 160 Washington DC Voting Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
July 15, 2008 National HR 5803 Backup Paper Ballots Bill Failed - House (248 - 170)
April 15, 2008 National HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
Sept. 18, 2007 National S 1257 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
Aug. 2, 2007 National S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
July 31, 2007 National S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Bill Passed - House (411 - 8)
April 19, 2007 National HR 1905 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 177)
Sept. 20, 2006 National HR 4844 Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (228 - 196)
July 13, 2006 National HR 9 Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (390 - 33)
May 3, 2006 National HR 4975 527 Reform Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (217 - 213)
April 5, 2006 National HR 513 527 Reform Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (218 - 209)
Nov. 2, 2005 National HR 1606 Online Freedom of Speech Act Bill Failed - House (225 - 182)
April 22, 2004 National HR 2844 Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (306 - 97)
Oct. 16, 2002 National HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
Oct. 10, 2002 National HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 48)
April 11, 2002 National S 565 Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
March 20, 2002 National HR 2356 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40)
Feb. 27, 2002 National S Amdt 2937 Allowing Signatures for Voter Registration by Mail Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (46 - 51)
Feb. 14, 2002 National HR 2356 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (240 - 189)
April 2, 2001 National S 27 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
March 26, 2001 National S Amdt 145 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
March 21, 2001 National S Amdt 134 Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
March 20, 2001 National S Amdt 115 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
June 29, 2000 National HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
June 28, 2000 National HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - House (385 - 39)
Sept. 14, 1999 National HR 417 Campaign Finance Reform bill Bill Passed - House (252 - 177)
Aug. 6, 1998 National H Amdt 862 Federal Campaign Finance Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (147 - 222)
Aug. 6, 1998 National HR 2183 Campaign Finance Reform bill Bill Passed - House (252 - 179)
Aug. 3, 1998 National H Amdt 690 Shays Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 186)
July 30, 1998 National S Amdt 3379 Federal Election Commission Term Length Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 54)
July 30, 1998 National H Amdt 747 Voter Registration Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 260)
July 20, 1998 National H Amdt 716 Noncitizen Campaign Contribution Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 131)
July 20, 1998 National H Amdt 744 Labor Political Activity Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 248)
July 16, 1998 National H Amdt 723 Increase FEC Funding Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 210)
July 14, 1998 National H Amdt 694 Express Advocacy Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 219)
June 17, 1998 National H Amdt 688 Campaign Finance Reform Commission Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 201)
March 30, 1998 National HR 3581 Campaign Finance Reform bill Bill Failed - House (74 - 337)
March 30, 1998 National HR 3582 Campaign Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1998 Bill Passed - House (405 - 6)
March 4, 1998 National HR 856 Puerto Rico Political Status bill Bill Passed - House (209 - 208)
Feb. 26, 1998 National S Amdt 1646 Campaign Finance Reform Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
July 25, 1996 National HR 3820 Campaign Finance Reform Bill Failed - House (162 - 259)
June 25, 1996 National S 1219 Campaign Finance Reform bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
Nov. 22, 1993 National HR 3 Congressional Campaign Spending Limit and Election Reform Act of 1993 Bill Passed - House (255 - 175)
July 20, 1993 National HR 20 Hatch Act Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
May 11, 1993 National HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 36)
Date No. Title Outcome
12/23 HR 2617 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Concurrence Vote Passed - House (225 - 201)
12/22 HR 2617 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29)
9/21 HR 8873 Presidential Election Reform Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 203)
9/21 HR 8873 Presidential Election Reform Act Bill Passed - House (229 - 203)
1/19 HR 5746 Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 48)
1/13 HR 5746 Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 203)
12/07 HR 5314 Protecting Our Democracy Act Bill Passed - House (220 - 208)
10/20 S 2747 Freedom to Vote Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51)
8/24 HR 4 John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (219 - 212)
8/24 H Res 601 Providing for consideration of (H.R. 4) John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to (H.R. 3684) Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; and providing for the adoption of the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 14); and for other purposes Resolution Passed - House (220 - 212)
6/22 S 2093 For the People Act of 2021 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 50)
3/03 HR 1 For the People Act of 2021 Bill Passed - House (220 - 210)
9/29 H Res 1155 Reaffirming the House of Representatives' commitment to the orderly and peaceful transfer of power called for in the Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (397 - 5)
12/06 HR 4 Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (228 - 187)
10/23 HR 4617 Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 181)
6/27 HR 2722 Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act Bill Passed - House (225 - 184)
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)
3/08 HR 1 For the People Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
9/11 S J Res 19 A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Contributions and Expenditures Intended to Affect Elections Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
12/11 HR 2019 Kids First Research Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (295 - 103)
9/19 HR 5912 Prohibits Public Funding for Political Party Conventions Bill Passed - House (310 - 95)
7/17 S 3369 DISCLOSE Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
12/01 HR 3463 Repeals Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns Bill Passed - House (235 - 190)
1/26 HR 359 Abolishing Federal Financing of Presidential Election Campaigns Bill Passed - House (239 - 160)
9/23 S 3628 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 39)
7/27 S 3628 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
6/24 HR 5175 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Bill Passed - House (219 - 206)
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)
9/14 S Amdt 2355 Prohibiting Funding for ACORN Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7)
2/26 S 160 Washington DC Voting Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
7/15 HR 5803 Backup Paper Ballots Bill Failed - House (248 - 170)
4/15 HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
9/18 S 1257 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
8/02 S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
7/31 S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Bill Passed - House (411 - 8)
4/19 HR 1905 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 177)
9/20 HR 4844 Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (228 - 196)
7/13 HR 9 Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (390 - 33)
5/03 HR 4975 527 Reform Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (217 - 213)
4/05 HR 513 527 Reform Act of 2005 Bill Passed - House (218 - 209)
11/02 HR 1606 Online Freedom of Speech Act Bill Failed - House (225 - 182)
4/22 HR 2844 Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 Bill Passed - House (306 - 97)
10/16 HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
10/10 HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 48)
4/11 S 565 Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
3/20 HR 2356 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40)
2/27 S Amdt 2937 Allowing Signatures for Voter Registration by Mail Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (46 - 51)
2/14 HR 2356 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - House (240 - 189)
4/02 S 27 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
3/26 S Amdt 145 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
3/21 S Amdt 134 Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
3/20 S Amdt 115 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
6/29 HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
6/28 HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - House (385 - 39)
9/14 HR 417 Campaign Finance Reform bill Bill Passed - House (252 - 177)
8/06 H Amdt 862 Federal Campaign Finance Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (147 - 222)
8/06 HR 2183 Campaign Finance Reform bill Bill Passed - House (252 - 179)
8/03 H Amdt 690 Shays Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 186)
7/30 S Amdt 3379 Federal Election Commission Term Length Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 54)
7/30 H Amdt 747 Voter Registration Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 260)
7/20 H Amdt 716 Noncitizen Campaign Contribution Amendment Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 131)
7/20 H Amdt 744 Labor Political Activity Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 248)
7/16 H Amdt 723 Increase FEC Funding Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 210)
7/14 H Amdt 694 Express Advocacy Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 219)
6/17 H Amdt 688 Campaign Finance Reform Commission Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 201)
3/30 HR 3581 Campaign Finance Reform bill Bill Failed - House (74 - 337)
3/30 HR 3582 Campaign Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1998 Bill Passed - House (405 - 6)
3/04 HR 856 Puerto Rico Political Status bill Bill Passed - House (209 - 208)
2/26 S Amdt 1646 Campaign Finance Reform Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
7/25 HR 3820 Campaign Finance Reform Bill Failed - House (162 - 259)
6/25 S 1219 Campaign Finance Reform bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
11/22 HR 3 Congressional Campaign Spending Limit and Election Reform Act of 1993 Bill Passed - House (255 - 175)
7/20 HR 20 Hatch Act Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
5/11 HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 36)

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