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 10, 2022 | VA | SB 652 | Amends Requirements for Absentee Voting | Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (19 - 21) |
Feb. 15, 2022 | VA | SJ 1 | Expands Voting Rights of Released Inmates | (24 - 16) |
April 7, 2021 | VA | SB 1245 | Requires the Establishment of Drop-Box Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
Feb. 27, 2021 | VA | SJ 272 | Amends the Qualifications to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
Feb. 27, 2021 | VA | HJ 555 | Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18) |
Feb. 23, 2021 | VA | SB 1148 | Amends the Primary Election Date | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14) |
Feb. 23, 2021 | VA | SB 1097 | Rescinds the Mandate for a Witness Signature on Absentee Ballots | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 17) |
Feb. 23, 2021 | VA | HB 2020 | Amends the Nomination Processes to Accommodate Servicemembers on Active Duty | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Feb. 19, 2021 | VA | HB 1888 | Requires the Creation of More Ballot Drop Boxes | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
Feb. 19, 2021 | VA | HB 1968 | Authorizes the Electoral Board or General Registrar of a County or City to Provide Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
Feb. 19, 2021 | VA | HB 1810 | Authorizes the Governor to Order the Online Voter Registration System be Made Available After Close of Registration if a System Error Occurs | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 4) |
Feb. 19, 2021 | VA | HB 2125 | Authorizes a Person Who is 16 Years of Age or Older to Preregister to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17) |
Feb. 18, 2021 | VA | HB 2081 | Prohibits the Possession of Firearms Within 40 Feet of a Polling Place | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
Jan. 25, 2021 | VA | SB 1239 | Authorizes the General Registrar to Contract with a Third Party for the Printing, Assembly, and Mailing of Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
Jan. 25, 2021 | VA | SB 1281 | Specifies that the General Registrar of a Locality Does Not Need to be a Resident of that Locality | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 8) |
Aug. 28, 2020 | VA | SB 5120 | Appropriates Funds to Provide Prepaid Postage on Absentee Ballots for the General Election | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 16) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 1255 | Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create an Independent Redistricting Commission | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
April 22, 2020 | VA | HB 207 | Establishes Permanent Absentee Voter List | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 235 | Establishes and Authorizes a Process for Automatic Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 201 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
March 7, 2020 | VA | HB 19 | Repeals Photo Identification Requirement for Voting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19) |
Feb. 28, 2020 | VA | HB 1210 | Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
Feb. 24, 2020 | VA | HB 1 | Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
Feb. 4, 2020 | VA | SB 65 | Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) |
Jan. 21, 2020 | VA | SB 601 | Establishes Election Day to Replace Lee-Jackson Day | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
Feb. 1, 2016 | VA | SB 106 | Authorizes No-Excuse In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 19) |
Feb. 5, 2013 | VA | SB 719 | Amends Voting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Feb. 5, 2013 | VA | SB 1256 | Requires Photo Identification for Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Jan. 28, 2013 | VA | SB 690 | Reduces the Number of Signatures Required to Run for President | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17) |
Feb. 27, 2012 | VA | HB 9 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Feb. 6, 2012 | VA | SB 1 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 20) |
Jan. 20, 2012 | VA | HB 251 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19) |
April 11, 2011 | VA | HB 5001 | Legislative Redistricting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (22 - 17) |
Jan. 24, 2011 | VA | SB 949 | Allowing Absentee Voting For Any Reason | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
Jan. 25, 2010 | VA | SB 83 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
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) |
Jan. 26, 2009 | VA | SB 810 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
Jan. 29, 2007 | VA | SB 920 | Requirements For Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
Jan. 25, 2007 | VA | SJ 307 | Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
Jan. 23, 2007 | VA | SJ 352 | Creation of a Bipartisan Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 18) |
Feb. 6, 2006 | VA | Sub SB 313 | DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |