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.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 7, 2021 VA HB 2113 Authorizes Criminal Records Expungement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
April 7, 2021 VA SB 1245 Requires the Establishment of Drop-Box Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA HB 2312 Authorizes the Simple Possession of Marijuana Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA SB 1385 Rescinds the Sunset on a Pilot Program Allowing a Locality to Request an Electric Utility to Place Underground Electric Distribution Lines Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 7)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA HJ 555 Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA HB 2004 Requires Releasing Records From Closed Criminal Investigations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA SJ 272 Amends the Qualifications to Vote Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2021 VA HB 1909 Establishes Gun-Free Zones on School Board Property Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 24, 2021 VA SB 1182 Increases Auto Insurance Minimum Coverage Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
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. 22, 2021 VA HB 1889 Extends Eviction Protections for Renters Experiencing Financial Hardship Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 19, 2021 VA SB 1392 Establishes a Framework for Controlling and Processing Personal Health Data Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
Feb. 19, 2021 VA HB 1888 Requires the Creation of More Ballot Drop Boxes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 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 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 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)
Feb. 15, 2021 VA HB 2128 Increases the Amount of Time for the State Department to Complete Firearm Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
Feb. 5, 2021 VA SB 1339 Requires an Individual Petition a Court for Permission to have Their Criminal Records Sealed Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Feb. 5, 2021 VA SB 1406 Expands Adult Cannabis Use and Eliminates Criminal Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
Feb. 3, 2021 VA SB 1165 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Feb. 1, 2021 VA SB 1387 Expands Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 29, 2021 VA SB 1413 Increases Broadband by Allowing Deals with the State Corporation Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
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)
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. 22, 2021 VA SB 1276 Repeals the Abortion Prohibition in Virginia Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/07 HB 2113 Authorizes Criminal Records Expungement Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
4/07 SB 1245 Requires the Establishment of Drop-Box Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
2/27 HB 2312 Authorizes the Simple Possession of Marijuana Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
2/27 SB 1385 Rescinds the Sunset on a Pilot Program Allowing a Locality to Request an Electric Utility to Place Underground Electric Distribution Lines Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 7)
2/27 HJ 555 Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
2/27 HB 2004 Requires Releasing Records From Closed Criminal Investigations Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15)
2/27 SJ 272 Amends the Qualifications to Vote Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
2/27 HB 1909 Establishes Gun-Free Zones on School Board Property Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
2/24 SB 1182 Increases Auto Insurance Minimum Coverage Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
2/23 SB 1148 Amends the Primary Election Date Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
2/23 SB 1097 Rescinds the Mandate for a Witness Signature on Absentee Ballots Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
2/23 HB 2020 Amends the Nomination Processes to Accommodate Servicemembers on Active Duty Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
2/22 HB 1889 Extends Eviction Protections for Renters Experiencing Financial Hardship Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/19 SB 1392 Establishes a Framework for Controlling and Processing Personal Health Data Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 7)
2/19 HB 1888 Requires the Creation of More Ballot Drop Boxes Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
2/19 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)
2/19 HB 1968 Authorizes the Electoral Board or General Registrar of a County or City to Provide Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
2/19 HB 2125 Authorizes a Person Who is 16 Years of Age or Older to Preregister to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
2/18 HB 2081 Prohibits the Possession of Firearms Within 40 Feet of a Polling Place Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/15 HB 2128 Increases the Amount of Time for the State Department to Complete Firearm Background Checks Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
2/05 SB 1339 Requires an Individual Petition a Court for Permission to have Their Criminal Records Sealed Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
2/05 SB 1406 Expands Adult Cannabis Use and Eliminates Criminal Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15)
2/03 SB 1165 Repeals the Death Penalty Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
2/01 SB 1387 Expands Financial Aid for Undocumented Immigrants Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/29 SB 1413 Increases Broadband by Allowing Deals with the State Corporation Commission Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
1/25 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)
1/25 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)
1/22 SB 1276 Repeals the Abortion Prohibition in Virginia Health Insurance Plans Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)

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