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 12, 2007 AK SCS CSHB 109 Disclosure & Ethics Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 0)
May 11, 2007 MN SF 893 Earlier Precinct Caucus Date Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 9)
May 10, 2007 RI S 21 Telephone Political Solicitation Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
May 9, 2007 WI SB 77 Financial Disclosure For Issue Based Groups Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
May 2, 2007 IL HB 858 Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (65 - 50)
April 26, 2007 TN SA 3 PAC-to-PAC Contribution Limits Bill Tabled - Senate (16 - 13)
April 24, 2007 TX HB 218 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - House (76 - 69)
April 19, 2007 National HR 1905 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 177)
April 17, 2007 WI AJR 17 Voter Identification Constitutional Amendment Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
April 16, 2007 TN SB 227 Voter ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
April 13, 2007 TX HB 2017 Early Presidential Primary Bill Passed - House (123 - 12)
April 9, 2007 MD HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
April 9, 2007 WA HB 1528 Electronic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 6, 2007 MD SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - House (107 - 32)
April 6, 2007 MD SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (84 - 54)
April 5, 2007 HI SB 1956 Popular Vote Presidential Election Bill Passed - House (35 - 12)
April 3, 2007 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Concurrence Vote Failed - House (61 - 61)
April 2, 2007 MD HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
March 29, 2007 NC CS HB 91 One-Stop Registration and Voting Sites Bill Passed - House (66 - 45)
March 28, 2007 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
March 28, 2007 MD SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 27, 2007 IA HF 653 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
March 26, 2007 MD SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (78 - 60)
March 23, 2007 MD SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
March 20, 2007 IA HF 653 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
March 20, 2007 GA HCS HB 487 President Primary Date Change Act Bill Passed - House (154 - 11)
March 15, 2007 KS Amend HB 2542 Presidential Primary Funding Amendment Adopted - House (85 - 34)
March 15, 2007 NJ S 2193 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - House (57 - 20)
March 7, 2007 OK HCS HB 1734 Photo Identification Voting Requirement Bill Passed - House (58 - 38)
March 7, 2007 OK HCS HB 2095 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - House (82 - 14)
March 6, 2007 CA SB 113 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
March 3, 2007 SD HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
March 3, 2007 SD HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 22)
Feb. 28, 2007 KY HCS HB 70 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)
Feb. 27, 2007 IN HB 1808 Vote by Mail Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
Feb. 22, 2007 SD HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Feb. 22, 2007 KS Sub SB 152 Elections for Senate Vacancies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 20, 2007 MD SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Feb. 19, 2007 AZ HB 2090 Early Ballot Verification Notice Bill Failed - House (24 - 31)
Feb. 16, 2007 MD HB 201 Early Voting Bill Passed - House (101 - 31)
Feb. 15, 2007 KS SB 169 Identification Requirement to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
Feb. 13, 2007 SD HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Bill Passed - House (47 - 23)
Feb. 13, 2007 CA SB 113 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
Feb. 8, 2007 ND HB 1336 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Failed - House (31 - 60)
Feb. 8, 2007 MT SB 290 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30)
Feb. 7, 2007 MS SB 2617 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
Feb. 6, 2007 SD SJR 7 Extension of Term Limits Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
Feb. 5, 2007 ND SB 2143 Clean Election Fund Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 33)
Jan. 31, 2007 ND SB 2230 Mail Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
Jan. 30, 2007 ND HB 1378 County Vote Centers Bill Passed - House (48 - 42)
Jan. 29, 2007 VA SB 920 Requirements For Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Jan. 25, 2007 VA SJ 307 Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 288 Appointment of the Secretary of State Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 101 Reorganization of the State Government Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 285 The Appointment of the Comptroller General Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 286 Appointment of the Superintendent of Education Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 287 The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 284 The Appointment of the Adjutant General Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18)
Jan. 23, 2007 VA SJ 352 Creation of a Bipartisan Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Jan. 17, 2007 VA HB 1977 Inaugural Committee Finance Reform Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
Dec. 4, 2006 NJ S 2193 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Sept. 20, 2006 National HR 4844 Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (228 - 196)
Aug. 16, 2006 CA SCA 3 Redistricting Commission Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
July 26, 2006 NC HB 1024 Instant Runoff Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 52)
July 19, 2006 NC HB 1024 Instant Runoff Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
July 13, 2006 MA H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
July 13, 2006 MA H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - House (132 - 24)
July 13, 2006 National HR 9 Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (390 - 33)
June 16, 2006 LA SB 382 Gift Ban on Cultural and Sporting Events for Elected Officials Motion Agreed - House (49 - 43)
June 15, 2006 RI LCO # 2223/6 Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 36)
June 14, 2006 SC H 4410 Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill Veto Override Failed - House (73 - 40)
June 14, 2006 SC H 4410 Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (8 - 29)
June 13, 2006 RI H 6874 Ballot Questions from Governor Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
June 6, 2006 RI H 6874 Ballot Questions from Governor Veto Override Passed - House (50 - 23)
May 30, 2006 CA AB 2948 Electoral College: Interstate Compact Bill Passed - House (49 - 31)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/12 SCS CSHB 109 Disclosure & Ethics Bill Concurrence Vote Passed - House (39 - 0)
5/11 SF 893 Earlier Precinct Caucus Date Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 9)
5/10 S 21 Telephone Political Solicitation Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
5/09 SB 77 Financial Disclosure For Issue Based Groups Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
5/02 HB 858 Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (65 - 50)
4/26 SA 3 PAC-to-PAC Contribution Limits Bill Tabled - Senate (16 - 13)
4/24 HB 218 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - House (76 - 69)
4/19 HR 1905 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Bill Passed - House (241 - 177)
4/17 AJR 17 Voter Identification Constitutional Amendment Bill Passed - House (54 - 43)
4/16 SB 227 Voter ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
4/13 HB 2017 Early Presidential Primary Bill Passed - House (123 - 12)
4/09 HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
4/09 HB 1528 Electronic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/06 SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - House (107 - 32)
4/06 SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (84 - 54)
4/05 SB 1956 Popular Vote Presidential Election Bill Passed - House (35 - 12)
4/03 HB 2019 Voter Identification Concurrence Vote Failed - House (61 - 61)
4/02 HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (85 - 54)
3/29 CS HB 91 One-Stop Registration and Voting Sites Bill Passed - House (66 - 45)
3/28 HB 2019 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
3/28 SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/27 HF 653 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
3/26 SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (78 - 60)
3/23 SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
3/20 HF 653 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
3/20 HCS HB 487 President Primary Date Change Act Bill Passed - House (154 - 11)
3/15 Amend HB 2542 Presidential Primary Funding Amendment Adopted - House (85 - 34)
3/15 S 2193 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - House (57 - 20)
3/07 HCS HB 1734 Photo Identification Voting Requirement Bill Passed - House (58 - 38)
3/07 HCS HB 2095 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - House (82 - 14)
3/06 SB 113 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - House (46 - 29)
3/03 HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
3/03 HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - House (45 - 22)
2/28 HCS HB 70 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (70 - 28)
2/27 HB 1808 Vote by Mail Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
2/22 HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
2/22 Sub SB 152 Elections for Senate Vacancies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
2/20 SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
2/19 HB 2090 Early Ballot Verification Notice Bill Failed - House (24 - 31)
2/16 HB 201 Early Voting Bill Passed - House (101 - 31)
2/15 SB 169 Identification Requirement to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
2/13 HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Bill Passed - House (47 - 23)
2/13 SB 113 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
2/08 HB 1336 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Failed - House (31 - 60)
2/08 SB 290 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30)
2/07 SB 2617 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
2/06 SJR 7 Extension of Term Limits Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
2/05 SB 2143 Clean Election Fund Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 33)
1/31 SB 2230 Mail Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
1/30 HB 1378 County Vote Centers Bill Passed - House (48 - 42)
1/29 SB 920 Requirements For Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
1/25 SJ 307 Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
1/24 S 288 Appointment of the Secretary of State Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13)
1/24 S 101 Reorganization of the State Government Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23)
1/24 S 285 The Appointment of the Comptroller General Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11)
1/24 S 286 Appointment of the Superintendent of Education Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19)
1/24 S 287 The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15)
1/24 S 284 The Appointment of the Adjutant General Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18)
1/23 SJ 352 Creation of a Bipartisan Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
1/17 HB 1977 Inaugural Committee Finance Reform Bill Passed - House (62 - 32)
12/04 S 2193 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
9/20 HR 4844 Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 Bill Passed - House (228 - 196)
8/16 SCA 3 Redistricting Commission Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
7/26 HB 1024 Instant Runoff Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 52)
7/19 HB 1024 Instant Runoff Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
7/13 H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
7/13 H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - House (132 - 24)
7/13 HR 9 Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Bill Passed - House (390 - 33)
6/16 SB 382 Gift Ban on Cultural and Sporting Events for Elected Officials Motion Agreed - House (49 - 43)
6/15 LCO # 2223/6 Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (25 - 36)
6/14 H 4410 Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill Veto Override Failed - House (73 - 40)
6/14 H 4410 Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (8 - 29)
6/13 H 6874 Ballot Questions from Governor Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
6/06 H 6874 Ballot Questions from Governor Veto Override Passed - House (50 - 23)
5/30 AB 2948 Electoral College: Interstate Compact Bill Passed - House (49 - 31)

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