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 26, 2006 | TN | HA 1609 to HB 1114 | Primary Election Regulations Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 45) |
| May 25, 2006 | OH | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (58 - 37) |
| May 25, 2006 | OH | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (53 - 42) |
| May 12, 2006 | MO | CCS2 HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 73) |
| May 11, 2006 | MO | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 67) |
| May 11, 2006 | MO | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5) |
| May 11, 2006 | MO | CCS2 HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10) |
| May 11, 2006 | TN | SB 1678 | Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
| May 10, 2006 | KS | SB 142 | Campaign Finance | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| May 9, 2006 | MN | HF 1443 | Voter Registration Photo ID | Bill Passed - House (71 - 62) |
| May 8, 2006 | KS | SB 142 | Campaign Finance | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 45) |
| May 4, 2006 | IL | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16) |
| May 4, 2006 | MO | HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Bill Passed - House (94 - 65) |
| May 4, 2006 | LA | HB 669 | Special Tax Election Requirements | Bill Failed - House (51 - 51) |
| May 3, 2006 | PA | SB 999 | Voting Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| May 3, 2006 | PA | SB 999 | Voting Standards | Bill Passed - House (139 - 59) |
| May 3, 2006 | RI | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 3, 2006 | National | HR 4975 | 527 Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 213) |
| May 2, 2006 | WI | SB 1 | Ethics Bill | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 51) |
| May 2, 2006 | FL | HB 1037 | Campaign Financing | Bill Passed - House (81 - 36) |
| May 1, 2006 | IL | SB 1445 | Election Code Revisions | Bill Passed - House (61 - 40) |
| April 24, 2006 | MO | SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| April 19, 2006 | VA | Governor's Recommendation: Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 52) | |
| April 17, 2006 | CO | SB 223 | Interstate Compact for the Election of the President of the United States by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| April 17, 2006 | AZ | SB 1099 | Campaign Finance Reports; Disclosure; Exemption | Bill Failed - House (29 - 26) |
| April 13, 2006 | NH | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
| April 12, 2006 | NE | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| April 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1368 | Election Changes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| April 10, 2006 | MD | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| April 10, 2006 | LA | HB 850 | Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 31) |
| April 8, 2006 | MD | HB 1368 | Election Changes | Veto Override Passed - House (93 - 45) |
| April 8, 2006 | MD | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 49) |
| April 5, 2006 | AL | HB 51 | Presidential Primary Date | Bill Passed - House (79 - 14) |
| April 5, 2006 | National | HR 513 | 527 Reform Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (218 - 209) |
| April 4, 2006 | MD | HB 1054 | Public Campaign Financing Act for Candidates for the General Assembly | Bill Passed - House (79 - 56) |
| April 3, 2006 | NE | LB 188 | Campaign Finance | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| March 31, 2006 | MD | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| March 28, 2006 | ME | LD 1912 | Maine House of Representatives Age Requirement | Resolution Failed - House (77 - 65) |
| March 25, 2006 | MD | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Bill Passed - House (87 - 47) |
| March 22, 2006 | IA | HF 2597 | Voter Identification Act | Bill Passed - House (51 - 48) |
| March 21, 2006 | OH | HCR 36 | Apportioning U.S. House Seats | Resolution Passed - House (71 - 23) |
| March 17, 2006 | VT | S 164 | Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (63 - 45) |
| March 14, 2006 | OK | HCS HB 3119 | Voter ID, Repealing Tuition Assistance, and Reporting of Illegal Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (63 - 24) |
| March 8, 2006 | IN | HB 1011 | Miscellaneous Election Law Matters | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| Feb. 28, 2006 | IN | HB 1011 | Miscellaneous Election Law Matters | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| Feb. 22, 2006 | SD | S Amdt 1215re | Abortion Ban on Ballot | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 20) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | PA | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | LA | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 32) |
| Feb. 15, 2006 | LA | SB 22 | State of Emergency Voting Reform | Bill Passed - House (72 - 29) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | PA | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - House (106 - 91) |
| Feb. 14, 2006 | LA | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | NM | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| Feb. 9, 2006 | MS | SB 2309 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | VA | Sub SB 313 | DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| Feb. 6, 2006 | MS | SB 2119 | School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | NH | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (168 - 169) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | NH | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - House (211 - 149) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | NH | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | Bill Passed - House (198 - 144) |
| Feb. 1, 2006 | PA | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (106 - 85) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | OH | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | OH | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 12) |
| Jan. 31, 2006 | GA | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - House (100 - 69) |
| Jan. 30, 2006 | CA | AB 583 | California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
| Jan. 25, 2006 | GA | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 60) |
| Jan. 24, 2006 | GA | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| Jan. 17, 2006 | MS | HB 519 | Campaign Finance Reform | Bill Passed - House (99 - 22) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | GA | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (110 - 64) |
| Jan. 12, 2006 | GA | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| Nov. 2, 2005 | National | HR 1606 | Online Freedom of Speech Act | Bill Failed - House (225 - 182) |
| April 22, 2004 | National | HR 2844 | Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 97) |
| Oct. 16, 2002 | National | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2) |
| Oct. 10, 2002 | National | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 48) |
| April 11, 2002 | National | S 565 | Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1) |
| March 20, 2002 | National | HR 2356 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40) |
| Feb. 27, 2002 | National | S Amdt 2937 | Allowing Signatures for Voter Registration by Mail | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (46 - 51) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/26 | HA 1609 to HB 1114 | Primary Election Regulations Amendment | Amendment Adopted - House (48 - 45) |
| 5/25 | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (58 - 37) |
| 5/25 | HJR 13 | Redistricting Commission | Joint Resolution Failed - House (53 - 42) |
| 5/12 | CCS2 HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Conference Report Adopted - House (84 - 73) |
| 5/11 | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - House (88 - 67) |
| 5/11 | CCS SS HCS HB 1900 | Campaign Finance and Lobbying | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5) |
| 5/11 | CCS2 HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 5/11 | SB 1678 | Establishing Voting Rights Guidelines for Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - House (57 - 40) |
| 5/10 | SB 142 | Campaign Finance | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11) |
| 5/09 | HF 1443 | Voter Registration Photo ID | Bill Passed - House (71 - 62) |
| 5/08 | SB 142 | Campaign Finance | Conference Report Adopted - House (75 - 45) |
| 5/04 | HB 1918 | Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago | Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16) |
| 5/04 | HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Bill Passed - House (94 - 65) |
| 5/04 | HB 669 | Special Tax Election Requirements | Bill Failed - House (51 - 51) |
| 5/03 | SB 999 | Voting Standards | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 13) |
| 5/03 | SB 999 | Voting Standards | Bill Passed - House (139 - 59) |
| 5/03 | S 2486 | Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 5/03 | HR 4975 | 527 Reform Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (217 - 213) |
| 5/02 | SB 1 | Ethics Bill | Motion Rejected - House (45 - 51) |
| 5/02 | HB 1037 | Campaign Financing | Bill Passed - House (81 - 36) |
| 5/01 | SB 1445 | Election Code Revisions | Bill Passed - House (61 - 40) |
| 4/24 | SS2 SCS SB 1014 | Voter Identification and Poll Regulation | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9) |
| 4/19 | Governor's Recommendation: Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements | Amendment Rejected - House (42 - 52) | |
| 4/17 | SB 223 | Interstate Compact for the Election of the President of the United States by National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 4/17 | SB 1099 | Campaign Finance Reports; Disclosure; Exemption | Bill Failed - House (29 - 26) |
| 4/13 | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9) |
| 4/12 | LR 449 | Impeachment of C. David Hergert | Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| 4/10 | HB 1368 | Election Changes | Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17) |
| 4/10 | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18) |
| 4/10 | HB 850 | Campaign Contributions | Bill Passed - House (63 - 31) |
| 4/08 | HB 1368 | Election Changes | Veto Override Passed - House (93 - 45) |
| 4/08 | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Veto Override Passed - House (88 - 49) |
| 4/05 | HB 51 | Presidential Primary Date | Bill Passed - House (79 - 14) |
| 4/05 | HR 513 | 527 Reform Act of 2005 | Bill Passed - House (218 - 209) |
| 4/04 | HB 1054 | Public Campaign Financing Act for Candidates for the General Assembly | Bill Passed - House (79 - 56) |
| 4/03 | LB 188 | Campaign Finance | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10) |
| 3/31 | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17) |
| 3/28 | LD 1912 | Maine House of Representatives Age Requirement | Resolution Failed - House (77 - 65) |
| 3/25 | HB 1674 | Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents | Bill Passed - House (87 - 47) |
| 3/22 | HF 2597 | Voter Identification Act | Bill Passed - House (51 - 48) |
| 3/21 | HCR 36 | Apportioning U.S. House Seats | Resolution Passed - House (71 - 23) |
| 3/17 | S 164 | Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - House (63 - 45) |
| 3/14 | HCS HB 3119 | Voter ID, Repealing Tuition Assistance, and Reporting of Illegal Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (63 - 24) |
| 3/08 | HB 1011 | Miscellaneous Election Law Matters | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 47) |
| 2/28 | HB 1011 | Miscellaneous Election Law Matters | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| 2/22 | S Amdt 1215re | Abortion Ban on Ballot | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 20) |
| 2/15 | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 2/15 | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (66 - 32) |
| 2/15 | SB 22 | State of Emergency Voting Reform | Bill Passed - House (72 - 29) |
| 2/14 | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - House (106 - 91) |
| 2/14 | HB 12 | Elections; Voting; State of Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| 2/09 | SB 344 | Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4) |
| 2/09 | SB 2309 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| 2/06 | Sub SB 313 | DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15) |
| 2/06 | SB 2119 | School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20) |
| 2/01 | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | "Inexpedient to Legislate" Vote Failed - House (168 - 169) |
| 2/01 | HB 345 | Photo ID for Voting | Bill Passed - House (211 - 149) |
| 2/01 | HB 621 | Disclosure of Campaign Contributions by Lobbyists | Bill Passed - House (198 - 144) |
| 2/01 | HB 1318 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - House (106 - 85) |
| 1/31 | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - House (57 - 40) |
| 1/31 | HB 3 | Election Law Reform Bill | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 1/31 | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - House (100 - 69) |
| 1/30 | AB 583 | California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006 | Bill Passed - House (47 - 31) |
| 1/25 | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 60) |
| 1/24 | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 22) |
| 1/17 | HB 519 | Campaign Finance Reform | Bill Passed - House (99 - 22) |
| 1/12 | SB 84 | Voter Identification | Bill Passed - House (110 - 64) |
| 1/12 | SB 386 | State Senatorial District Composition | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18) |
| 11/02 | HR 1606 | Online Freedom of Speech Act | Bill Failed - House (225 - 182) |
| 4/22 | HR 2844 | Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 | Bill Passed - House (306 - 97) |
| 10/16 | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2) |
| 10/10 | HR 3295 | Help America Vote Act of 2002 | Conference Report Adopted - House (357 - 48) |
| 4/11 | S 565 | Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1) |
| 3/20 | HR 2356 | Campaign Reform Act of 2001 | Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40) |
| 2/27 | S Amdt 2937 | Allowing Signatures for Voter Registration by Mail | Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (46 - 51) |