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
March 12, 2014 WI SB 324 Amends the Absentee Voting Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
March 10, 2014 CA AB 800 Authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to Conduct Audits and Investigations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 19)
March 10, 2014 UT HB 410 Authorizes Early Online Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - House (58 - 14)
Feb. 27, 2014 AZ SB 1344 Amends Responsibilities of Clean Elections Commission Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Feb. 27, 2014 MO HJR 47 Amends Election Laws Bill Passed - House (103 - 50)
Feb. 20, 2014 CA AB 800 Authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to Conduct Audits and Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
Feb. 20, 2014 AZ HB 2196 Repeals Certain Elections Laws Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
Feb. 19, 2014 OH SB 238 Reduces Number of Absentee Voting Days Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Feb. 19, 2014 OH SB 205 Amends Absentee Ballot Voting Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Feb. 19, 2014 OH SB 205 Amends Absentee Ballot Voting Laws Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
Feb. 19, 2014 OH SB 238 Reduces Number of Absentee Voting Days Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
Feb. 13, 2014 AZ HB 2196 Repeals Certain Elections Laws Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
Feb. 11, 2014 NY A 689A Authorizes Early Voting Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
Feb. 5, 2014 TN SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
Jan. 30, 2014 CA AJR 1 Requests Constitutional Convention to Overturn Citizens United Bill Passed - House (51 - 20)
Jan. 16, 2014 VT S 82 Amends Campaign Finance Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8)
Dec. 12, 2013 MI SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Dec. 11, 2013 MI SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
Dec. 11, 2013 National HR 2019 Kids First Research Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (295 - 103)
Nov. 14, 2013 MI SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
Aug. 23, 2013 KY HB 1 State Legislative Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 18)
Aug. 23, 2013 KY HB 1 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
Aug. 8, 2013 CA AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
July 25, 2013 NC HB 589 Amends Voter Registration Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 41)
July 25, 2013 NC HB 589 Amends Voter Registration Laws Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
July 8, 2013 CA AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
July 7, 2013 OR HB 3521 Requires Voter Registration Agencies to Provide Records for Automatic Registration Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
June 25, 2013 OR HB 3521 Requires Voter Registration Agencies to Provide Records for Automatic Registration Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
June 23, 2013 TX SB 3 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
June 21, 2013 TX SB 3 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (93 - 46)
June 21, 2013 TX SB 2 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (109 - 30)
June 21, 2013 TX SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (93 - 47)
June 14, 2013 TX SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
June 13, 2013 AZ HB 2305 Amends Voting Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13)
June 13, 2013 AZ HB 2305 Amends Voting Procedures Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 26)
June 4, 2013 CT HB 6580 Authorizes Unlimited Spending in State Legislative Elections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 31, 2013 CT HB 6580 Authorizes Unlimited Spending in State Legislative Elections Bill Passed - House (71 - 59)
May 28, 2013 OR SB 154 Requires Signature Gathering Firms to Meet Certain Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
May 23, 2013 NV AB 440 Extends Voter Registration Period Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
May 23, 2013 NV AB 441 Authorizes Voting Centers for All Eligible Voters in a City or County Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
May 23, 2013 CA AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - House (49 - 23)
May 20, 2013 AL SB 445 Repeals Limits on Campaign Financing Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 4)
May 15, 2013 IL HB 226 Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 9)
May 15, 2013 TX SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80)
May 8, 2013 CT HJR 36 Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
May 8, 2013 MN HF 894 Amends Election Provisions Bill Passed - House (74 - 60)
May 3, 2013 CO HB 1303 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28)
May 2, 2013 CO HB 1303 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
April 30, 2013 ME SP 548 Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 31)
April 30, 2013 AL HB 162 Amends the Voter Registration Deadline Bill Passed - House (67 - 34)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/12 SB 324 Amends the Absentee Voting Procedures Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
3/10 AB 800 Authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to Conduct Audits and Investigations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 19)
3/10 HB 410 Authorizes Early Online Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - House (58 - 14)
2/27 SB 1344 Amends Responsibilities of Clean Elections Commission Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
2/27 HJR 47 Amends Election Laws Bill Passed - House (103 - 50)
2/20 AB 800 Authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to Conduct Audits and Investigations Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9)
2/20 HB 2196 Repeals Certain Elections Laws Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
2/19 SB 238 Reduces Number of Absentee Voting Days Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
2/19 SB 205 Amends Absentee Ballot Voting Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
2/19 SB 205 Amends Absentee Ballot Voting Laws Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
2/19 SB 238 Reduces Number of Absentee Voting Days Bill Passed - House (59 - 37)
2/13 HB 2196 Repeals Certain Elections Laws Bill Passed - House (36 - 23)
2/11 A 689A Authorizes Early Voting Bill Passed - House (93 - 43)
2/05 SJR 123 Requires Election of Attorney General Position Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14)
1/30 AJR 1 Requests Constitutional Convention to Overturn Citizens United Bill Passed - House (51 - 20)
1/16 S 82 Amends Campaign Finance Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8)
12/12 SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
12/11 SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - House (56 - 52)
12/11 HR 2019 Kids First Research Act of 2013 Bill Passed - House (295 - 103)
11/14 SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
8/23 HB 1 State Legislative Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (79 - 18)
8/23 HB 1 State Legislative Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2)
8/08 AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25)
7/25 HB 589 Amends Voter Registration Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 41)
7/25 HB 589 Amends Voter Registration Laws Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
7/08 AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
7/07 HB 3521 Requires Voter Registration Agencies to Provide Records for Automatic Registration Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16)
6/25 HB 3521 Requires Voter Registration Agencies to Provide Records for Automatic Registration Bill Passed - House (32 - 28)
6/23 SB 3 State House Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
6/21 SB 3 State House Redistricting Bill Passed - House (93 - 46)
6/21 SB 2 State Senate Redistricting Bill Passed - House (109 - 30)
6/21 SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - House (93 - 47)
6/14 SB 4 Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11)
6/13 HB 2305 Amends Voting Procedures Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13)
6/13 HB 2305 Amends Voting Procedures Conference Report Adopted - House (33 - 26)
6/04 HB 6580 Authorizes Unlimited Spending in State Legislative Elections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/31 HB 6580 Authorizes Unlimited Spending in State Legislative Elections Bill Passed - House (71 - 59)
5/28 SB 154 Requires Signature Gathering Firms to Meet Certain Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
5/23 AB 440 Extends Voter Registration Period Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
5/23 AB 441 Authorizes Voting Centers for All Eligible Voters in a City or County Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10)
5/23 AB 817 Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements Bill Passed - House (49 - 23)
5/20 SB 445 Repeals Limits on Campaign Financing Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 4)
5/15 HB 226 Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 9)
5/15 SJR 13 Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials Joint Resolution Failed - House (61 - 80)
5/08 HJR 36 Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14)
5/08 HF 894 Amends Election Provisions Bill Passed - House (74 - 60)
5/03 HB 1303 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28)
5/02 HB 1303 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
4/30 SP 548 Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance Joint Resolution Passed - House (111 - 31)
4/30 HB 162 Amends the Voter Registration Deadline Bill Passed - House (67 - 34)

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