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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 14, 2006 | LA | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | NM | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | SB 2309 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | VA | Sub SB 313 | DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | MS | SB 2119 | School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | NH | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (168 - 169) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | PA | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (106 - 85) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | NH | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - House (211 - 149) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | NH | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | Bill Passed - House (198 - 144) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | OH | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | OH | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | GA | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - House (100 - 69) |
| Jan. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 583 | California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
| Jan. 25, 2006 | GA | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 60) |
| Jan. 24, 2006 | GA | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| Jan. 17, 2006 | MS | HB 519 | Campaign Finance Reform | Bill Passed - House (99 - 22) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | GA | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (110 - 64) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | GA | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| 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) |
| May 5, 1993 | National | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 164) |
| March 17, 1993 | National | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 37) |
| 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) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/14 | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 2/09 | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| 2/09 | SB 2309 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| 2/06 | Sub SB 313 | DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 2/06 | SB 2119 | School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| 2/01 | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (168 - 169) |
| 2/01 | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (106 - 85) |
| 2/01 | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - House (211 - 149) |
| 2/01 | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | Bill Passed - House (198 - 144) |
| 1/31 | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40) |
| 1/31 | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 1/31 | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - House (100 - 69) |
| 1/30 | AB 583 | California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
| 1/25 | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 60) |
| 1/24 | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| 1/17 | HB 519 | Campaign Finance Reform | Bill Passed - House (99 - 22) |
| 1/12 | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (110 - 64) |
| 1/12 | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| 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) |
| 5/05 | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Conference Report Adopted - House (259 - 164) |
| 3/17 | HR 2 | Motor Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 37) |
| 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) |