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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 17, 2010 | WV | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Failed - House (42 - 45) |
| July 15, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| July 10, 2010 | NC | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| July 9, 2010 | NC | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| July 6, 2010 | NC | Amdt 2 | Lobbying Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 48) |
| June 24, 2010 | National | HR 5175 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Bill Passed - House (219 - 206) |
| June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6187 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6184 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 44) |
| June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6186 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| June 22, 2010 | MI | HB 6183 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| June 20, 2010 | LA | HB 671 | Evacuee Requirements for Running for Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 24) |
| June 17, 2010 | MI | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |
| June 9, 2010 | LA | HCR 63 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Congressional Term Limits | Resolution Passed - House (56 - 29) |
| June 2, 2010 | NH | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Rejected - House (135 - 184) |
| June 2, 2010 | NH | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| June 2, 2010 | MA | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
| May 18, 2010 | LA | Amdt 3107 | Advancing Effective Date of Open Primaries for US Congress Elections | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 14) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| May 11, 2010 | CO | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| May 10, 2010 | TN | HB 270 | Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| April 30, 2010 | CO | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
| April 29, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| April 19, 2010 | AZ | Burges Amdt | Verification of Presidential Candidate's Birth Certificate | Motion Rejected - House (22 - 31) |
| April 14, 2010 | LA | HB 292 | Open Primaries for Congressional Elections | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| April 14, 2010 | IL | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| March 24, 2010 | ID | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| March 18, 2010 | KY | HB 97 | Moving Back Primary Dates and Filing Deadlines | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| March 18, 2010 | FL | HB 1207 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| March 17, 2010 | GA | SB 406 | Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20) |
| March 3, 2010 | WV | HB 4130 | Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| March 1, 2010 | WV | HB 4647 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| March 1, 2010 | ID | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
| March 1, 2010 | AZ | SCR 1007 | Repealing Legislative Term Limits | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 1, 2010 | AZ | SCR 1009 | Repealing Public Funding of Statewide Political Campaigns | Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| March 1, 2010 | WV | HB 4646 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
| Feb. 16, 2010 | NM | HB 118 | Prohibiting Lobbyist and Contractor Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | WY | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
| Feb. 10, 2010 | KY | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| Feb. 8, 2010 | NY | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (35 - 26) |
| Feb. 2, 2010 | KY | SB 53 | Allowing Independents to Vote in Primaries | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| Feb. 2, 2010 | ME | LD 56 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (50 - 95) |
| Jan. 25, 2010 | VA | SB 83 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| Jan. 20, 2010 | NY | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Bill Passed - House (139 - 2) |
| Jan. 13, 2010 | OH | HB 5 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (48 - 50) |
| Jan. 12, 2010 | TN | HB 614 | Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| Dec. 9, 2009 | OH | SB 8 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| Nov. 18, 2009 | OH | HB 260 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| Oct. 15, 2009 | IL | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1) |
| Sept. 23, 2009 | OH | SJR 5 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Sept. 22, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Sept. 17, 2009 | National | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Motion Agreed - House (345 - 75) |
| Sept. 17, 2009 | National | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
| Sept. 17, 2009 | MA | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
| Sept. 14, 2009 | National | S Amdt 2355 | Prohibiting Funding for ACORN | Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7) |
| June 30, 2009 | RI | H 5005 | Voter Pre-Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| June 24, 2009 | DE | HB 198 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (23 - 12) |
| June 18, 2009 | RI | H 5569 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (28 - 45) |
| June 18, 2009 | TN | HB 614 | Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| June 16, 2009 | TN | SB 162 | Creation of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| June 15, 2009 | LA | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| June 15, 2009 | OR | HB 2005 | Petition Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| June 9, 2009 | DE | HB 117 | School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
| June 3, 2009 | LA | HB 243 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions | Bill Failed - House (38 - 60) |
| June 2, 2009 | CT | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (107 - 37) |
| May 31, 2009 | IL | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46) |
| May 30, 2009 | IL | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
| May 29, 2009 | CT | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| May 28, 2009 | IL | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| May 28, 2009 | RI | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
| May 26, 2009 | CT | HB 6435 | Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - House (81 - 65) |
| May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| May 21, 2009 | NJ | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| May 19, 2009 | LA | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (63 - 26) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/17 | HB 201 | Filling Senate Seat Vacancy | Bill Failed - House (42 - 45) |
| 7/15 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 10) |
| 7/10 | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 47) |
| 7/09 | HB 748 | Campaign Financing Restrictions | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 18) |
| 7/06 | Amdt 2 | Lobbying Restrictions | Amendment Adopted - House (67 - 48) |
| 6/24 | HR 5175 | Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements | Bill Passed - House (219 - 206) |
| 6/22 | HB 6187 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| 6/22 | HB 6184 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (62 - 44) |
| 6/22 | HB 6186 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| 6/22 | HB 6183 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (64 - 42) |
| 6/20 | HB 671 | Evacuee Requirements for Running for Office | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 24) |
| 6/17 | SJR V | Expanding Prohibitions Against Felons Holding Public Office | Joint Resolution Passed - House (91 - 13) |
| 6/09 | HCR 63 | Requesting Constitutional Convention for Congressional Term Limits | Resolution Passed - House (56 - 29) |
| 6/02 | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Rejected - House (135 - 184) |
| 6/02 | HB 1459 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10) |
| 6/02 | H 4156 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (114 - 35) |
| 5/18 | Amdt 3107 | Advancing Effective Date of Open Primaries for US Congress Elections | Amendment Adopted - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 5/11 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 5/11 | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13) |
| 5/11 | SB 203 | Independent expenditures in Colorado elections | Bill Passed - House (45 - 20) |
| 5/10 | HB 270 | Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12) |
| 4/30 | HB 1408 | Criteria for Judicial Determinations of Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - House (35 - 28) |
| 4/29 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Bill Failed - House (69 - 47) |
| 4/19 | Burges Amdt | Verification of Presidential Candidate's Birth Certificate | Motion Rejected - House (22 - 31) |
| 4/14 | HB 292 | Open Primaries for Congressional Elections | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| 4/14 | SJR 121 | Redistricting Process Modifications | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| 3/24 | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6) |
| 3/18 | HB 97 | Moving Back Primary Dates and Filing Deadlines | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15) |
| 3/18 | HB 1207 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (73 - 42) |
| 3/17 | SB 406 | Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20) |
| 3/03 | HB 4130 | Supreme Court of Appeals Public Campaign Financing Pilot Program | Bill Passed - House (67 - 30) |
| 3/01 | HB 4647 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| 3/01 | H 496 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (64 - 6) |
| 3/01 | SCR 1007 | Repealing Legislative Term Limits | Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 3/01 | SCR 1009 | Repealing Public Funding of Statewide Political Campaigns | Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12) |
| 3/01 | HB 4646 | Campaign Finance Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
| 2/16 | HB 118 | Prohibiting Lobbyist and Contractor Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (46 - 24) |
| 2/10 | HB 68 | Repealing Campaign Finance Restrictions | Bill Failed - House (36 - 22) |
| 2/10 | HB 70 | Voting Rights For Certain Felons | Bill Passed - House (83 - 16) |
| 2/08 | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Veto Override Failed - Senate (35 - 26) |
| 2/02 | SB 53 | Allowing Independents to Vote in Primaries | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12) |
| 2/02 | LD 56 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (50 - 95) |
| 1/25 | SB 83 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| 1/20 | A 9544 | Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments | Bill Passed - House (139 - 2) |
| 1/13 | HB 5 | Campaign Finance Amendments | Concurrence Vote Failed - House (48 - 50) |
| 1/12 | HB 614 | Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 12/09 | SB 8 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 11/18 | HB 260 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 46) |
| 10/15 | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1) |
| 9/23 | SJR 5 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 9/22 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 9/17 | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Motion Agreed - House (345 - 75) |
| 9/17 | HR 3221 | Prohibiting Federal Assistance to ACORN | Bill Passed - House (253 - 171) |
| 9/17 | H 4246 | Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator | Bill Passed - House (95 - 59) |
| 9/14 | S Amdt 2355 | Prohibiting Funding for ACORN | Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7) |
| 6/30 | H 5005 | Voter Pre-Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4) |
| 6/24 | HB 198 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (23 - 12) |
| 6/18 | H 5569 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Failed - House (28 - 45) |
| 6/18 | HB 614 | Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 6/16 | SB 162 | Creation of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11) |
| 6/15 | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13) |
| 6/15 | HB 2005 | Petition Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 6/09 | HB 117 | School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (23 - 17) |
| 6/03 | HB 243 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions | Bill Failed - House (38 - 60) |
| 6/02 | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (107 - 37) |
| 5/31 | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 46) |
| 5/30 | HJRCA 31 | Authorizing Governor Recall Elections | Joint Resolution Passed - House (109 - 6) |
| 5/29 | SB 913 | Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 5/28 | HB 7 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22) |
| 5/28 | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | Bill Passed - House (48 - 24) |
| 5/26 | HB 6435 | Election Day Registration | Bill Passed - House (81 - 65) |
| 5/21 | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| 5/21 | A 2451 | Vote by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14) |
| 5/21 | A 3902 | Election Requirements for Lieutenant Governor | Bill Passed - House (45 - 29) |
| 5/19 | HB 504 | Jefferson Parish School Board Elections | Bill Passed - House (63 - 26) |