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 21, 2001 | National | S Amdt 134 | Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31) |
July 16, 1998 | National | H Amdt 723 | Increase FEC Funding | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 210) |
March 20, 2001 | National | S Amdt 115 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30) |
Aug. 3, 1998 | National | H Amdt 690 | Shays Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 186) |
Sept. 17, 2009 | National | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Motion Agreed - House (345 - 75) |
March 26, 2001 | National | S Amdt 145 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
July 20, 1998 | National | H Amdt 716 | Noncitizen Campaign Contribution Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 131) |
Sept. 14, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2355 | Prohibiting Funding for ACORN | Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7) |
May 11, 1993 | National | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 36) |
May 5, 1993 | National | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 164) |
Oct. 10, 2002 | National | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 48) |
Oct. 16, 2002 | National | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2) |
Aug. 2, 2007 | National | S 1 | Lobbying and Donation Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14) |
March 17, 1993 | National | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 37) |
July 31, 2007 | National | S 1 | Lobbying and Donation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (411 - 8) |
July 20, 1993 | National | HR 20 | Hatch Act Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31) |
Aug. 6, 1998 | National | HR 2183 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (252 - 179) |
Feb. 14, 2002 | National | HR 2356 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
April 11, 2002 | National | S 565 | Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1) |
Sept. 20, 2006 | National | HR 4844 | Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 196) |
March 3, 1993 | National | HR 20 | Hatch Act Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (333 - 86) |
Feb. 4, 1993 | National | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (259 - 160) |
May 3, 2006 | National | HR 4975 | 527 Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 213) |
March 20, 2002 | National | HR 2356 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40) |
Sept. 14, 1999 | National | HR 417 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (252 - 177) |
April 19, 2007 | National | HR 1905 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 177) |
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) |
April 2, 2001 | National | S 27 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41) |
April 15, 2008 | National | HR 5036 | Federal Funding for Voting System Changes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 178) |
July 13, 2006 | National | HR 9 | Voting Rights Act Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (390 - 33) |
Nov. 22, 1993 | National | HR 3 | Congressional Campaign Spending Limit and Election Reform Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (255 - 175) |
Feb. 26, 2009 | National | S 160 | Washington DC Voting Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
June 28, 2000 | National | HR 4762 | '527' Political Groups | Bill Passed - House (385 - 39) |
June 29, 2000 | National | HR 4762 | '527' Political Groups | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
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 | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
April 5, 2006 | National | HR 513 | 527 Reform Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (218 - 209) |
April 22, 2004 | National | HR 2844 | Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 97) |
Jan. 19, 2022 | National | HR 5746 | Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 48) |
Dec. 23, 2022 | National | HR 2617 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (225 - 201) |
Jan. 13, 2022 | National | HR 5746 | Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 203) |
Dec. 22, 2022 | National | HR 2617 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
March 3, 2021 | National | HR 1 | For the People Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - House (220 - 210) |
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) |
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 27, 2019 | National | HR 2722 | Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act | Bill Passed - House (225 - 184) |
March 8, 2019 | National | HR 1 | For the People Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (234 - 193) |
Dec. 7, 2021 | National | HR 5314 | Protecting Our Democracy Act | Bill Passed - House (220 - 208) |
Aug. 24, 2021 | National | HR 4 | John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - House (219 - 212) |
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) |
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) |
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. 11, 2013 | National | HR 2019 | Kids First Research Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (295 - 103) |
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. 19, 2012 | National | HR 5912 | Prohibits Public Funding for Political Party Conventions | Bill Passed - House (310 - 95) |
Sept. 18, 2007 | National | S 1257 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42) |
July 30, 1998 | National | S Amdt 3379 | Federal Election Commission Term Length | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 54) |
Feb. 27, 2002 | National | S Amdt 2937 | Allowing Signatures for Voter Registration by Mail | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (46 - 51) |
Feb. 26, 1998 | National | S Amdt 1646 | Campaign Finance Reform Amendment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48) |
June 25, 1996 | National | S 1219 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 46) |
June 17, 1998 | National | H Amdt 688 | Campaign Finance Reform Commission Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 201) |
July 20, 1998 | National | H Amdt 744 | Labor Political Activity Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 248) |
Aug. 6, 1998 | National | H Amdt 862 | Federal Campaign Finance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (147 - 222) |
July 14, 1998 | National | H Amdt 694 | Express Advocacy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 219) |
July 30, 1998 | National | H Amdt 747 | Voter Registration Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 260) |
July 15, 2008 | National | HR 5803 | Backup Paper Ballots | Bill Failed - House (248 - 170) |
Nov. 2, 2005 | National | HR 1606 | Online Freedom of Speech Act | Bill Failed - House (225 - 182) |
July 25, 1996 | National | HR 3820 | Campaign Finance Reform | Bill Failed - House (162 - 259) |
March 30, 1998 | National | HR 3581 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Failed - House (74 - 337) |
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) |
Oct. 20, 2021 | National | S 2747 | Freedom to Vote Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51) |
June 22, 2021 | National | S 2093 | For the People Act of 2021 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 50) |
July 17, 2012 | National | S 3369 | DISCLOSE Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
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) |
Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
3/21 | S Amdt 134 | Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31) |
7/16 | H Amdt 723 | Increase FEC Funding | Amendment Adopted - House (214 - 210) |
3/20 | S Amdt 115 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30) |
8/03 | H Amdt 690 | Shays Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (237 - 186) |
9/17 | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Motion Agreed - House (345 - 75) |
3/26 | S Amdt 145 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment | Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46) |
7/20 | H Amdt 716 | Noncitizen Campaign Contribution Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (267 - 131) |
9/14 | S Amdt 2355 | Prohibiting Funding for ACORN | Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7) |
5/11 | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 36) |
5/05 | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 164) |
10/10 | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 48) |
10/16 | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2) |
8/02 | S 1 | Lobbying and Donation Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14) |
3/17 | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 37) |
7/31 | S 1 | Lobbying and Donation Regulations | Bill Passed - House (411 - 8) |
7/20 | HR 20 | Hatch Act Reform Bill | Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31) |
8/06 | HR 2183 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (252 - 179) |
2/14 | HR 2356 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - House (240 - 189) |
4/11 | S 565 | Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1) |
9/20 | HR 4844 | Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (228 - 196) |
3/03 | HR 20 | Hatch Act Reform Bill | Bill Passed - House (333 - 86) |
2/04 | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (259 - 160) |
5/03 | HR 4975 | 527 Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 213) |
3/20 | HR 2356 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40) |
9/14 | HR 417 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Passed - House (252 - 177) |
4/19 | HR 1905 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Bill Passed - House (241 - 177) |
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) |
4/02 | S 27 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41) |
4/15 | HR 5036 | Federal Funding for Voting System Changes | Bill Passed - House (239 - 178) |
7/13 | HR 9 | Voting Rights Act Reauthorization | Bill Passed - House (390 - 33) |
11/22 | HR 3 | Congressional Campaign Spending Limit and Election Reform Act of 1993 | Bill Passed - House (255 - 175) |
2/26 | S 160 | Washington DC Voting Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
6/28 | HR 4762 | '527' Political Groups | Bill Passed - House (385 - 39) |
6/29 | HR 4762 | '527' Political Groups | Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6) |
6/24 | HR 5175 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Bill Passed - House (219 - 206) |
9/17 | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
4/05 | HR 513 | 527 Reform Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (218 - 209) |
4/22 | HR 2844 | Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 97) |
1/19 | HR 5746 | Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act | Bill Passed - Senate (52 - 48) |
12/23 | HR 2617 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (225 - 201) |
1/13 | HR 5746 | Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (220 - 203) |
12/22 | HR 2617 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (68 - 29) |
3/03 | HR 1 | For the People Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - House (220 - 210) |
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) |
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) |
6/27 | HR 2722 | Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act | Bill Passed - House (225 - 184) |
3/08 | HR 1 | For the People Act of 2019 | Bill Passed - House (234 - 193) |
12/07 | HR 5314 | Protecting Our Democracy Act | Bill Passed - House (220 - 208) |
8/24 | HR 4 | John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 | Bill Passed - House (219 - 212) |
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) |
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) |
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) |
12/11 | HR 2019 | Kids First Research Act of 2013 | Bill Passed - House (295 - 103) |
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) |
9/19 | HR 5912 | Prohibits Public Funding for Political Party Conventions | Bill Passed - House (310 - 95) |
9/18 | S 1257 | District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42) |
7/30 | S Amdt 3379 | Federal Election Commission Term Length | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 54) |
2/27 | S Amdt 2937 | Allowing Signatures for Voter Registration by Mail | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (46 - 51) |
2/26 | S Amdt 1646 | Campaign Finance Reform Amendment | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48) |
6/25 | S 1219 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 46) |
6/17 | H Amdt 688 | Campaign Finance Reform Commission Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (156 - 201) |
7/20 | H Amdt 744 | Labor Political Activity Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (150 - 248) |
8/06 | H Amdt 862 | Federal Campaign Finance Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (147 - 222) |
7/14 | H Amdt 694 | Express Advocacy Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (201 - 219) |
7/30 | H Amdt 747 | Voter Registration Amendment | Amendment Rejected - House (165 - 260) |
7/15 | HR 5803 | Backup Paper Ballots | Bill Failed - House (248 - 170) |
11/02 | HR 1606 | Online Freedom of Speech Act | Bill Failed - House (225 - 182) |
7/25 | HR 3820 | Campaign Finance Reform | Bill Failed - House (162 - 259) |
3/30 | HR 3581 | Campaign Finance Reform bill | Bill Failed - House (74 - 337) |
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) |
10/20 | S 2747 | Freedom to Vote Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (49 - 51) |
6/22 | S 2093 | For the People Act of 2021 | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (50 - 50) |
7/17 | S 3369 | DISCLOSE Act | Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
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) |