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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2009 | OR | HB 2005 | Petition Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 7) |
| May 12, 2009 | CT | HB 6437 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (76 - 69) |
| May 11, 2009 | MN | SF 1331 | Changing Early Voting and Special Election Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27) |
| April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
| April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
| April 29, 2009 | ND | SCR 4038 | Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| April 22, 2009 | WA | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| April 21, 2009 | NC | HB 120 | Public Financing for Municipal Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (60 - 56) |
| April 21, 2009 | NV | AB 413 | Presidential Election By National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (27 - 14) |
| April 15, 2009 | WA | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| April 15, 2009 | WA | SB 5599 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (52 - 42) |
| April 8, 2009 | OK | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| April 3, 2009 | GA | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| April 3, 2009 | GA | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (140 - 67) |
| April 2, 2009 | MO | HB 681 | Special Elections for Statewide Office Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (94 - 63) |
| April 1, 2009 | OK | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| March 23, 2009 | VT | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
| March 21, 2009 | NM | SB 116 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - House (49 - 17) |
| March 17, 2009 | NM | SB 263 | Requiring State Contractors to Disclose Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| March 17, 2009 | IA | HF 670 | Early Absentee Vote Counting | Bill Passed - House (76 - 22) |
| March 17, 2009 | CO | HB 1299 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (34 - 29) |
| March 12, 2009 | OR | HB 2588 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (39 - 19) |
| March 12, 2009 | WA | SB 5599 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| March 11, 2009 | TX | SB 362 | Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| March 11, 2009 | UT | HB 345 | Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| March 11, 2009 | OK | HB 1037 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| March 10, 2009 | OK | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
| March 10, 2009 | RI | H 5005 | Voter Pre-Registration | Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) |
| March 5, 2009 | SD | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Bill Failed - House (17 - 49) |
| March 3, 2009 | WY | SF 12 | Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit | Bill Failed - House (30 - 30) |
| March 3, 2009 | SC | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
| Feb. 27, 2009 | VT | S 34 | Presidential Election by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 10) |
| Feb. 26, 2009 | National | S 160 | Washington DC Voting Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | IN | HB 1730 | Exempting Energy Efficient Projects From Referendum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (52 - 48) |
| Feb. 25, 2009 | AR | HB 1339 | Election of the President by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| Feb. 20, 2009 | MT | SB 394 | Expanding Mail Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| Feb. 11, 2009 | MS | HB 1533 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (78 - 44) |
| Feb. 11, 2009 | OK | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| Feb. 10, 2009 | MT | SB 243 | Majority Vote Requirement for General Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | ND | HB 1576 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (47 - 46) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | SD | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | VA | SJ 354 | Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | VA | SJ 273 | Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Feb. 6, 2009 | MT | SB 187 | Limitations on Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| Feb. 5, 2009 | UT | SB 25 | Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (58 - 14) |
| Feb. 4, 2009 | MS | SB 2548 | Identification Requirements to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
| Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SB 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
| Jan. 29, 2009 | MT | HB 147 | Revising Campaign Expenditure Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 36) |
| Jan. 26, 2009 | VA | SB 810 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| Jan. 21, 2009 | WY | SF 12 | Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| Jan. 14, 2009 | RI | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | |
| Dec. 16, 2008 | OH | SB 380 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| Dec. 11, 2008 | MI | HB 6610 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (65 - 36) |
| Dec. 9, 2008 | OH | SB 380 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| Dec. 4, 2008 | MI | HB 4090 | Expanding Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (58 - 50) |
| Aug. 30, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| July 29, 2008 | MA | S 2807 | Election Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
| July 15, 2008 | National | HR 5803 | Backup Paper Ballots | Bill Failed - House (248 - 170) |
| July 9, 2008 | MA | Jones Amdt - Presidential Electors by Congressional District | Bill Failed - House (34 - 120) | |
| July 9, 2008 | MA | Frost Amdt - National Popular Vote Plan Ratification Threshold | Bill Failed - House (34 - 120) | |
| July 9, 2008 | MA | H 678 | National Popular Vote Plan | Bill Passed - House (116 - 37) |
| June 28, 2008 | WV | HB 219 | Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| June 27, 2008 | AZ | HCR 2024 | Election of Superior Court Judges | Resolution Failed - House (24 - 32) |
| June 26, 2008 | WV | HB 219 | Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements | Bill Passed - House (67 - 21) |
| June 19, 2008 | RI | S 2112 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (34 - 28) |
| June 17, 2008 | RI | H 7106 | Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| June 11, 2008 | RI | S 2081 | Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - House (55 - 9) |
| May 29, 2008 | CA | AB 1819 | Voter Registration Age Minimum Changes | Bill Passed - House (45 - 31) |
| May 27, 2008 | RI | S 2081 | Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| May 27, 2008 | RI | S 2112 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| May 22, 2008 | MS | SB 2004 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| May 16, 2008 | MO | SB 1038 | Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 72) |
| May 8, 2008 | RI | H 7106 | Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - House (51 - 11) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/19 | HB 2005 | Petition Regulation Amendments | Bill Passed - House (52 - 7) |
| 5/12 | HB 6437 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (76 - 69) |
| 5/11 | SF 1331 | Changing Early Voting and Special Election Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27) |
| 4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
| 4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
| 4/29 | SCR 4038 | Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| 4/22 | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| 4/21 | HB 120 | Public Financing for Municipal Campaigns | Bill Passed - House (60 - 56) |
| 4/21 | AB 413 | Presidential Election By National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (27 - 14) |
| 4/15 | HB 1517 | Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19) |
| 4/15 | SB 5599 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (52 - 42) |
| 4/08 | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22) |
| 4/03 | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13) |
| 4/03 | SB 86 | Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (140 - 67) |
| 4/02 | HB 681 | Special Elections for Statewide Office Vacancies | Bill Passed - House (94 - 63) |
| 4/01 | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (71 - 27) |
| 3/23 | Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question | Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19) | |
| 3/21 | SB 116 | Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - House (49 - 17) |
| 3/17 | SB 263 | Requiring State Contractors to Disclose Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| 3/17 | HF 670 | Early Absentee Vote Counting | Bill Passed - House (76 - 22) |
| 3/17 | HB 1299 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (34 - 29) |
| 3/12 | HB 2588 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - House (39 - 19) |
| 3/12 | SB 5599 | National Popular Vote Act | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| 3/11 | SB 362 | Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| 3/11 | HB 345 | Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 3/11 | HB 1037 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (59 - 39) |
| 3/10 | SB 4 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21) |
| 3/10 | H 5005 | Voter Pre-Registration | Bill Passed - House (56 - 10) |
| 3/05 | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Bill Failed - House (17 - 49) |
| 3/03 | SF 12 | Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit | Bill Failed - House (30 - 30) |
| 3/03 | H 3418 | Requiring Photo Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - House (67 - 44) |
| 2/27 | S 34 | Presidential Election by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 10) |
| 2/26 | S 160 | Washington DC Voting Act | Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37) |
| 2/25 | HB 1730 | Exempting Energy Efficient Projects From Referendum Requirements | Bill Passed - House (52 - 48) |
| 2/25 | HB 1339 | Election of the President by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (56 - 43) |
| 2/20 | SB 394 | Expanding Mail Ballot Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17) |
| 2/11 | HB 1533 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (78 - 44) |
| 2/11 | HB 1601 | Regulating Attorney Election Contributions | Bill Passed - House (62 - 36) |
| 2/10 | SB 243 | Majority Vote Requirement for General Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27) |
| 2/09 | HB 1576 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Failed - House (47 - 46) |
| 2/09 | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 2/09 | SJ 354 | Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19) |
| 2/09 | SJ 273 | Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 2/06 | SB 187 | Limitations on Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 2/05 | SB 25 | Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (58 - 14) |
| 2/04 | SB 2548 | Identification Requirements to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17) |
| 2/02 | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
| 2/02 | SB 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
| 1/29 | HB 147 | Revising Campaign Expenditure Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - House (63 - 36) |
| 1/26 | SB 810 | Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 1/21 | SF 12 | Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12) |
| 1/14 | H 5097 | Requiring Voters to Present ID at Polls | |
| 12/16 | SB 380 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| 12/11 | HB 6610 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (65 - 36) |
| 12/09 | SB 380 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 12/04 | HB 4090 | Expanding Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (58 - 50) |
| 8/30 | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32) |
| 8/29 | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| 7/29 | S 2807 | Election Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5) |
| 7/15 | HR 5803 | Backup Paper Ballots | Bill Failed - House (248 - 170) |
| 7/09 | Jones Amdt - Presidential Electors by Congressional District | Bill Failed - House (34 - 120) | |
| 7/09 | Frost Amdt - National Popular Vote Plan Ratification Threshold | Bill Failed - House (34 - 120) | |
| 7/09 | H 678 | National Popular Vote Plan | Bill Passed - House (116 - 37) |
| 6/28 | HB 219 | Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9) |
| 6/27 | HCR 2024 | Election of Superior Court Judges | Resolution Failed - House (24 - 32) |
| 6/26 | HB 219 | Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements | Bill Passed - House (67 - 21) |
| 6/19 | S 2112 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (34 - 28) |
| 6/17 | H 7106 | Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4) |
| 6/11 | S 2081 | Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - House (55 - 9) |
| 5/29 | AB 1819 | Voter Registration Age Minimum Changes | Bill Passed - House (45 - 31) |
| 5/27 | S 2081 | Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| 5/27 | S 2112 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 5/22 | SB 2004 | Voter Identification Requirement | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 5/16 | SB 1038 | Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits | Bill Passed - House (83 - 72) |
| 5/08 | H 7106 | Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - House (51 - 11) |