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
Nov. 19, 2025 WI AB 385 Requires Verification of Security Code and Billing Address for a Political Entity to Accept an Online Donation Via Credit Card Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Nov. 19, 2025 WI AB 617 Amends Elections Laws Relating to Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
Nov. 13, 2025 MI SB 529 Prohibits Petition Organizers From Paying Circulators per Signature Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Nov. 13, 2025 MI SB 530 Requires Petition Circulators to Inform Signers of the Purpose of a Petition Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Nov. 13, 2025 MI SB 531 Establishes Regulations for Duplicate Signatures on Petitions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
Nov. 5, 2025 OH SB 293 Amends the Deadline to Return Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Oct. 22, 2025 NC SB 249 Amends State Congressional Districts 1 and 3 Bill Passed - House (66 - 48)
Oct. 21, 2025 NC SB 249 Amends State Congressional Districts 1 and 3 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
Oct. 14, 2025 WI AB 35 Repeals Restrictions to Make it Easier for Candidates to Remove Their Names from Ballots Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
Sept. 13, 2025 CA AB 1079 Repeals the Automatic Stay of Judgment in Voting Rights and Fair Maps Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 17)
Sept. 12, 2025 CA AB 1079 Repeals the Automatic Stay of Judgment in Voting Rights and Fair Maps Cases Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
Sept. 9, 2025 CA AB 5 Requires Election Officials to Complete the Counting of All Ballots Within 13 Days Following an Election Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 0)
Sept. 9, 2025 MI HB 4602 Prohibits the Secretary of State From Restricting Local Election Clerks From Using Any Lawful Source for Testing Voting Machines Bill Passed - House (63 - 41)
Sept. 9, 2025 MI HB 4602 Prohibits the Secretary of State From Restricting Local Election Clerks From Using Any Lawful Source for Testing Voting Machines Bill Passed - House (63 - 41)
Sept. 8, 2025 CA AB 5 Requires Election Officials to Complete the Counting of All Ballots Within 13 Days Following an Election Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
Sept. 4, 2025 TX HB 18 (Special Session) Prohibits Lawmakers From Accepting Campaign Donations While Absent From an Ongoing Legislative Session Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
Sept. 2, 2025 TX HB 18 (Special Session) Prohibits Lawmakers From Accepting Campaign Donations While Absent From an Ongoing Legislative Session Bill Passed - House (86 - 46)
Aug. 21, 2025 CA SB 280 Establishes Timelines Procedures, and Appropriates Funding for Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
Aug. 21, 2025 CA AB 604 Amends State Congressional Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 20)
Aug. 21, 2025 CA AB 604 Amends State Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
Aug. 21, 2025 CA SB 280 Establishes Timelines Procedures, and Appropriates Funding for Redistricting Bill Passed - House (57 - 20)
Aug. 21, 2025 CA ACA 8 Authorizes a Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Redistricting Amendment Adopted - Senate (30 - 8)
Aug. 21, 2025 CA ACA 8 Authorizes a Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Redistricting Amendment Adopted - House (57 - 20)
Aug. 12, 2025 TX SB 4 (Special Session) Amends State Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
Aug. 1, 2025 TX SB 11 (Special Session) Authorizes the State Attorney General the Power to Prosecute Election Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
July 30, 2025 TX SB 12 (Special Session) Prohibit Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
July 30, 2025 TX SB 12 (Special Session) Prohibit Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
July 17, 2025 CA AB 17 Requires County Election Offices to Post Up-to-date Precinct Maps Online Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
June 23, 2025 PA HB 811 Establishes Civil Liability and Requires Disclosure for the Use of Deepfake Content in Campaign Advertisements Bill Passed - House (203 - 0)
June 18, 2025 OH SB 4 Establishes an Election Integrity Unit in the Secretary of State's Office to Investigate Election Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
June 10, 2025 National HR 884 To prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (266 - 148)
June 5, 2025 NH SB 221 Requires Supervisors of the Voter Checklist to Conduct an Annual, Comprehensive Review of Their Lists of Registered Voters and Purge Any Voters That Should Not Be Listed "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (184 - 153)
June 5, 2025 NH SB 218 Requires Proof of Citizenship and Identity for Absentee Ballot Voter Registration and Modifies Absentee Ballot Envelope Requirements "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (192 - 149)
June 5, 2025 NH SB 287 Requires that Individuals Applying for Absentee Ballots Include a Copy of Their Identification and Signature from a Licensed Notary in Order to Obtain the Ballot by Mail "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (187 - 149)
June 4, 2025 CA AB 1079 Repeals the Automatic Stay of Judgment in Voting Rights and Fair Maps Cases Bill Passed - House (55 - 16)
June 2, 2025 NV AB 499 Requires Voter Photo Identification and Reforms to Mail Voting and Voter Registration Systems Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
June 2, 2025 NV AB 597 Authorizes a Registered Voter who has Indicated on his or her Voter Registration that he or she is not Affiliated with a Political Party to Vote in a Primary Election for a Major Political Party by Requesting a Partisan Mail Ballot or Requesting a Partisan Ballot in Person Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
May 30, 2025 NV AB 105 Prohibits Firearm Possession Near Election Sites and Requires Signage Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
May 30, 2025 NV AB 597 Authorizes a Registered Voter who has Indicated on his or her Voter Registration that he or she is not Affiliated with a Political Party to Vote in a Primary Election for a Major Political Party by Requesting a Partisan Mail Ballot or Requesting a Partisan Ballot in Person Bill Passed - House (27 - 15)
May 29, 2025 CA AB 5 Requires Election Officials to Complete the Counting of All Ballots Within 13 Days Following an Election Bill Passed - House (71 - 0)
May 28, 2025 TX HB 5671 Requires Individuals Listed on the Ballot as a Candidate for or to Serve as a Director to be a Qualified Voter, a Retail Water or Sewer Service Customer of the District and an Owner of Land Receiving Services from the District Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 34)
May 26, 2025 NV AB 105 Prohibits Firearm Possession Near Election Sites and Requires Signage Bill Passed - House (27 - 14)
May 22, 2025 CT SB 1405 Limits Elections Watchdog Independence Bill Passed - House (92 - 46)
May 22, 2025 NV SB 102 Prohibits a Person from Creating or Serving in a False Slate of Presidential Electors or Conspiring to Create or Serve in a False Slate of Electors Bill Passed - House (27 - 15)
May 22, 2025 NJ A 4969 Requires that Boards of Elections have Discretion to Make Initial Determination of Validity of Cast Ballots and Requires Secretary of State to Establish Uniform Guidelines for Assessing Validity of Ballots (76 - 2)
May 20, 2025 ME LD 1576 Prohibits Legislative Staff from Lobbying for at Least a Year after Leaving Their Positions "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (115 - 28)
May 19, 2025 MN SF 3045 Appropriates Funding for the Omnibus State Government Finance and Elections Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (116 - 18)
May 19, 2025 MN SF 3045 Appropriates Funding for the Omnibus State Government Finance and Elections Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 31)
May 14, 2025 OH SB 63 Prohibits Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
May 13, 2025 PA HB 1396 Establishes Elections Regulations Bill Passed - House (102 - 101)
Date No. Title Outcome
11/19 AB 385 Requires Verification of Security Code and Billing Address for a Political Entity to Accept an Online Donation Via Credit Card Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
11/19 AB 617 Amends Elections Laws Relating to Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - House (53 - 44)
11/13 SB 529 Prohibits Petition Organizers From Paying Circulators per Signature Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
11/13 SB 530 Requires Petition Circulators to Inform Signers of the Purpose of a Petition Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
11/13 SB 531 Establishes Regulations for Duplicate Signatures on Petitions Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 15)
11/05 SB 293 Amends the Deadline to Return Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
10/22 SB 249 Amends State Congressional Districts 1 and 3 Bill Passed - House (66 - 48)
10/21 SB 249 Amends State Congressional Districts 1 and 3 Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 20)
10/14 AB 35 Repeals Restrictions to Make it Easier for Candidates to Remove Their Names from Ballots Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
9/13 AB 1079 Repeals the Automatic Stay of Judgment in Voting Rights and Fair Maps Cases Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 17)
9/12 AB 1079 Repeals the Automatic Stay of Judgment in Voting Rights and Fair Maps Cases Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13)
9/09 AB 5 Requires Election Officials to Complete the Counting of All Ballots Within 13 Days Following an Election Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 0)
9/09 HB 4602 Prohibits the Secretary of State From Restricting Local Election Clerks From Using Any Lawful Source for Testing Voting Machines Bill Passed - House (63 - 41)
9/09 HB 4602 Prohibits the Secretary of State From Restricting Local Election Clerks From Using Any Lawful Source for Testing Voting Machines Bill Passed - House (63 - 41)
9/08 AB 5 Requires Election Officials to Complete the Counting of All Ballots Within 13 Days Following an Election Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0)
9/04 HB 18 (Special Session) Prohibits Lawmakers From Accepting Campaign Donations While Absent From an Ongoing Legislative Session Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 8)
9/02 HB 18 (Special Session) Prohibits Lawmakers From Accepting Campaign Donations While Absent From an Ongoing Legislative Session Bill Passed - House (86 - 46)
8/21 SB 280 Establishes Timelines Procedures, and Appropriates Funding for Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8)
8/21 AB 604 Amends State Congressional Districts Concurrence Vote Passed - House (56 - 20)
8/21 AB 604 Amends State Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9)
8/21 SB 280 Establishes Timelines Procedures, and Appropriates Funding for Redistricting Bill Passed - House (57 - 20)
8/21 ACA 8 Authorizes a Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Redistricting Amendment Adopted - Senate (30 - 8)
8/21 ACA 8 Authorizes a Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Redistricting Amendment Adopted - House (57 - 20)
8/12 SB 4 (Special Session) Amends State Congressional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 2)
8/01 SB 11 (Special Session) Authorizes the State Attorney General the Power to Prosecute Election Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
7/30 SB 12 (Special Session) Prohibit Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
7/30 SB 12 (Special Session) Prohibit Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11)
7/17 AB 17 Requires County Election Offices to Post Up-to-date Precinct Maps Online Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0)
6/23 HB 811 Establishes Civil Liability and Requires Disclosure for the Use of Deepfake Content in Campaign Advertisements Bill Passed - House (203 - 0)
6/18 SB 4 Establishes an Election Integrity Unit in the Secretary of State's Office to Investigate Election Law Violations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 8)
6/10 HR 884 To prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 Bill Passed - House (266 - 148)
6/05 SB 221 Requires Supervisors of the Voter Checklist to Conduct an Annual, Comprehensive Review of Their Lists of Registered Voters and Purge Any Voters That Should Not Be Listed "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (184 - 153)
6/05 SB 218 Requires Proof of Citizenship and Identity for Absentee Ballot Voter Registration and Modifies Absentee Ballot Envelope Requirements "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (192 - 149)
6/05 SB 287 Requires that Individuals Applying for Absentee Ballots Include a Copy of Their Identification and Signature from a Licensed Notary in Order to Obtain the Ballot by Mail "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (187 - 149)
6/04 AB 1079 Repeals the Automatic Stay of Judgment in Voting Rights and Fair Maps Cases Bill Passed - House (55 - 16)
6/02 AB 499 Requires Voter Photo Identification and Reforms to Mail Voting and Voter Registration Systems Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
6/02 AB 597 Authorizes a Registered Voter who has Indicated on his or her Voter Registration that he or she is not Affiliated with a Political Party to Vote in a Primary Election for a Major Political Party by Requesting a Partisan Mail Ballot or Requesting a Partisan Ballot in Person Bill Passed - Senate (12 - 9)
5/30 AB 105 Prohibits Firearm Possession Near Election Sites and Requires Signage Bill Passed - Senate (13 - 8)
5/30 AB 597 Authorizes a Registered Voter who has Indicated on his or her Voter Registration that he or she is not Affiliated with a Political Party to Vote in a Primary Election for a Major Political Party by Requesting a Partisan Mail Ballot or Requesting a Partisan Ballot in Person Bill Passed - House (27 - 15)
5/29 AB 5 Requires Election Officials to Complete the Counting of All Ballots Within 13 Days Following an Election Bill Passed - House (71 - 0)
5/28 HB 5671 Requires Individuals Listed on the Ballot as a Candidate for or to Serve as a Director to be a Qualified Voter, a Retail Water or Sewer Service Customer of the District and an Owner of Land Receiving Services from the District Concurrence Vote Passed - House (98 - 34)
5/26 AB 105 Prohibits Firearm Possession Near Election Sites and Requires Signage Bill Passed - House (27 - 14)
5/22 SB 1405 Limits Elections Watchdog Independence Bill Passed - House (92 - 46)
5/22 SB 102 Prohibits a Person from Creating or Serving in a False Slate of Presidential Electors or Conspiring to Create or Serve in a False Slate of Electors Bill Passed - House (27 - 15)
5/22 A 4969 Requires that Boards of Elections have Discretion to Make Initial Determination of Validity of Cast Ballots and Requires Secretary of State to Establish Uniform Guidelines for Assessing Validity of Ballots (76 - 2)
5/20 LD 1576 Prohibits Legislative Staff from Lobbying for at Least a Year after Leaving Their Positions "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (115 - 28)
5/19 SF 3045 Appropriates Funding for the Omnibus State Government Finance and Elections Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (116 - 18)
5/19 SF 3045 Appropriates Funding for the Omnibus State Government Finance and Elections Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 31)
5/14 SB 63 Prohibits Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 5)
5/13 HB 1396 Establishes Elections Regulations Bill Passed - House (102 - 101)

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