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
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)

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