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 LA HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - House (63 - 26)
May 12, 2009 CT HB 6437 National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (76 - 69)
April 29, 2009 IN HB 1491 St. Joseph Superior Court Judges Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22)
April 22, 2009 WA HB 1517 Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44)
April 21, 2009 NV AB 413 Presidential Election By National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (27 - 14)
April 21, 2009 NC HB 120 Public Financing for Municipal Campaigns Bill Passed - House (60 - 56)
April 15, 2009 WA SB 5599 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - House (52 - 42)
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 21, 2009 NM SB 116 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - House (49 - 17)
March 17, 2009 CO HB 1299 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - House (34 - 29)
March 17, 2009 IA HF 670 Early Absentee Vote Counting Bill Passed - House (76 - 22)
March 12, 2009 OR HB 2588 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - House (39 - 19)
March 11, 2009 OK HB 1037 Voter Identification Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
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. 25, 2009 AR HB 1339 Election of the President by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
Feb. 25, 2009 IN HB 1730 Exempting Energy Efficient Projects From Referendum Requirements Bill Passed - House (52 - 48)
Feb. 11, 2009 OK HB 1601 Regulating Attorney Election Contributions Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
Feb. 11, 2009 MS HB 1533 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 44)
Feb. 9, 2009 ND HB 1576 Election Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (47 - 46)
Feb. 5, 2009 UT SB 25 Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (58 - 14)
Jan. 29, 2009 MT HB 147 Revising Campaign Expenditure Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - House (63 - 36)
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. 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)
July 15, 2008 National HR 5803 Backup Paper Ballots Bill Failed - House (248 - 170)
July 9, 2008 MA Frost Amdt - National Popular Vote Plan Ratification Threshold Bill Failed - House (34 - 120)
July 9, 2008 MA Jones Amdt - Presidential Electors by Congressional District Bill Failed - House (34 - 120)
July 9, 2008 MA H 678 National Popular Vote Plan Bill Passed - House (116 - 37)
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 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 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)
May 6, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 15)
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56)
May 6, 2008 CO HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 27)
May 5, 2008 MN Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54)
April 30, 2008 IL HB 5278 Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements Bill Passed - House (63 - 48)
April 25, 2008 VT S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Failed - House (99 - 51)
April 23, 2008 CO HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
April 15, 2008 National HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
April 8, 2008 IL HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
April 7, 2008 MN Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
April 7, 2008 MN Brod Amendment: Voter Registration Training Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 82)
April 1, 2008 MN Buesgens Amnd. Amendment Prohibiting Grants for Groups Involved in Political Activity Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 69)
April 1, 2008 KY HB 70 Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons Bill Passed - House (80 - 14)
March 12, 2008 OK HB 2196 Campaign Finance Restrictions Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
March 10, 2008 OK HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
March 5, 2008 SC H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
March 4, 2008 WA SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - House (51 - 43)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - House (48 - 17)
Feb. 27, 2008 CO HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
Feb. 22, 2008 LA SB 3 Restrictions on Gifts to Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (95 - 5)
Feb. 20, 2008 WY HB 3 Campaign Finance Reporting Bill Passed - House (44 - 16)
Feb. 18, 2008 WY HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - House (58 - 2)
Feb. 14, 2008 LA HB 64 Campaign Disclosures Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
Feb. 6, 2008 NM HB 191 Automatic Absentee Ballots Bill Failed - House (25 - 40)
Feb. 6, 2008 NM HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
Jan. 25, 2008 WA HB 1551 Allowing Public Funding for Local Office Campaigns Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
Jan. 9, 2008 IL HB 1685 National Popular Vote Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50)
Dec. 13, 2007 NJ A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
Aug. 30, 2007 MI Sub SB 624 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - House (67 - 34)
July 31, 2007 National S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Bill Passed - House (411 - 8)
July 10, 2007 PA HB 289 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - House (117 - 85)
June 19, 2007 SC S 99 Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission Veto Override Passed - House (87 - 18)
June 11, 2007 NJ A 4326 Holding Multiple Elected State Offices Bill Passed - House (69 - 3)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/19 HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - House (63 - 26)
5/12 HB 6437 National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (76 - 69)
4/29 HB 1491 St. Joseph Superior Court Judges Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22)
4/22 HB 1517 Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights Concurrence Vote Passed - House (52 - 44)
4/21 AB 413 Presidential Election By National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (27 - 14)
4/21 HB 120 Public Financing for Municipal Campaigns Bill Passed - House (60 - 56)
4/15 SB 5599 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - House (52 - 42)
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)
3/21 SB 116 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - House (49 - 17)
3/17 HB 1299 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - House (34 - 29)
3/17 HF 670 Early Absentee Vote Counting Bill Passed - House (76 - 22)
3/12 HB 2588 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - House (39 - 19)
3/11 HB 1037 Voter Identification Bill Passed - House (59 - 39)
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)
2/25 HB 1339 Election of the President by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (56 - 43)
2/25 HB 1730 Exempting Energy Efficient Projects From Referendum Requirements Bill Passed - House (52 - 48)
2/11 HB 1601 Regulating Attorney Election Contributions Bill Passed - House (62 - 36)
2/11 HB 1533 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - House (78 - 44)
2/09 HB 1576 Election Law Amendments Bill Failed - House (47 - 46)
2/05 SB 25 Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (58 - 14)
1/29 HB 147 Revising Campaign Expenditure Reporting Requirements Bill Passed - House (63 - 36)
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)
12/04 HB 4090 Expanding Early Voting Bill Passed - House (58 - 50)
8/30 AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (42 - 32)
7/15 HR 5803 Backup Paper Ballots Bill Failed - House (248 - 170)
7/09 Frost Amdt - National Popular Vote Plan Ratification Threshold Bill Failed - House (34 - 120)
7/09 Jones Amdt - Presidential Electors by Congressional District Bill Failed - House (34 - 120)
7/09 H 678 National Popular Vote Plan Bill Passed - House (116 - 37)
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)
6/11 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)
5/16 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)
5/06 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Conference Report Adopted - House (49 - 15)
5/06 HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - House (67 - 56)
5/06 HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 27)
5/05 Severson Amendment: Income Tax Refund Amendment Adopted - House (75 - 54)
4/30 HB 5278 Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements Bill Passed - House (63 - 48)
4/25 S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Failed - House (99 - 51)
4/23 HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Bill Passed - House (36 - 29)
4/15 HR 5036 Federal Funding for Voting System Changes Bill Passed - House (239 - 178)
4/08 HJRCA 28 Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - House (75 - 33)
4/07 Emmer Amnd. Voter Identification Amendment Amendment Rejected - House (59 - 70)
4/07 Brod Amendment: Voter Registration Training Amendment Rejected - House (48 - 82)
4/01 Buesgens Amnd. Amendment Prohibiting Grants for Groups Involved in Political Activity Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 69)
4/01 HB 70 Restoring Voting Rights to Former Felons Bill Passed - House (80 - 14)
3/12 HB 2196 Campaign Finance Restrictions Bill Passed - House (92 - 8)
3/10 HB 2956 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
3/05 H 4620 Expanding Governor's Appointment Power Joint Resolution Passed - House (83 - 24)
3/04 SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - House (51 - 43)
2/27 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - House (48 - 17)
2/27 HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - House (39 - 26)
2/22 SB 3 Restrictions on Gifts to Elected Officials Bill Passed - House (95 - 5)
2/20 HB 3 Campaign Finance Reporting Bill Passed - House (44 - 16)
2/18 HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - House (58 - 2)
2/14 HB 64 Campaign Disclosures Bill Passed - House (65 - 35)
2/06 HB 191 Automatic Absentee Ballots Bill Failed - House (25 - 40)
2/06 HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
1/25 HB 1551 Allowing Public Funding for Local Office Campaigns Bill Passed - House (56 - 38)
1/09 HB 1685 National Popular Vote Act Concurrence Vote Passed - House (64 - 50)
12/13 A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - House (43 - 32)
8/30 Sub SB 624 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - House (67 - 34)
7/31 S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Bill Passed - House (411 - 8)
7/10 HB 289 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - House (117 - 85)
6/19 S 99 Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission Veto Override Passed - House (87 - 18)
6/11 A 4326 Holding Multiple Elected State Offices Bill Passed - House (69 - 3)

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