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 21, 2019 NY S 4347 Limits Corporate Influence and Participation in Political Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
May 20, 2019 TX HB 2911 Amends Election Law to Determine Voter Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
May 14, 2019 ME LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
May 9, 2019 ME LD 431 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
May 3, 2019 FL HB 5 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 2, 2019 FL SB 7066 Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 2, 2019 CO HB 19-1318 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 2, 2019 CA SB 27 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
April 29, 2019 CO HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 26, 2019 ND SB 2148 Establishes the Creation of an Ethics Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
April 26, 2019 CO HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
April 25, 2019 TN HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
April 24, 2019 CO SB 19-235 Expands Automatic Voter Registration System Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
April 23, 2019 NV SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
April 17, 2019 IA HF 692 Requires Bar Codes on Absentee Ballots to Determine Time of Mailing Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
April 17, 2019 ND HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
April 17, 2019 ND HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
April 11, 2019 DE HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
April 11, 2019 IL SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
April 10, 2019 NC SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
April 9, 2019 OR SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
April 3, 2019 ID H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 67 Amends Definition of Resident and Residency "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
March 26, 2019 ID H 270 Authorizes Public Schools as Election Polling Sites Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 22, 2019 ID S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 12, 2019 NM HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
March 12, 2019 NC SB 214 Exempts Upcoming 2019 Election from Photo ID Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 12, 2019 WA SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 9, 2019 WV SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
March 7, 2019 DE SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
March 5, 2019 HI SB 216 Requires Ballot Recount Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0)
March 4, 2019 SD HB 1094 Increases Transparency in the Petition Circulation Process Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
Feb. 21, 2019 NJ S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 14, 2019 AZ SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Jan. 30, 2019 WA SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Jan. 29, 2019 CO SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Jan. 15, 2019 NY A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 12)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 6)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13)
Dec. 21, 2018 MI HB 6595 Increases Requirements for State Ballot Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Dec. 20, 2018 MI SB 1238 Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Dec. 20, 2018 MI SB 1239 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
Dec. 5, 2018 WI SB 884 Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Nov. 29, 2018 MI SB 1176 Establishes Misdemeanor Crimes for Public Officials Requiring nonprofit groups Disclose Donors Information Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Nov. 8, 2018 MI SB 1022 Authorizes use of Campaign Finance Funds for Repayment of Debts and Obligations of Campaigns by Former Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Nov. 8, 2018 MI SB 1022 Authorizes use of Campaign Finance Funds for Repayment of Debts and Obligations of Campaigns by Former Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
Oct. 29, 2018 NJ A 4674 Authorizes US Congresspersons to Run for Congress and Presidency during Primary Election Bill Passed - Senate
July 30, 2018 MA H 4834 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0)
June 29, 2018 NC HB 1092 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
June 27, 2018 NC HB 913 Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement Amendment Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
June 26, 2018 NC SB 325 Amends One-Stop Voting Schedules Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 12)
June 25, 2018 NJ A 3463 Requires Polling Places to Post Count of Voters Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
June 21, 2018 CA AB 216 Authorizes Free Postage for Vote by Mail Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
June 19, 2018 NC SB 486 Amends Various Election Laws Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
June 19, 2018 RI S 2612 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
June 13, 2018 PA SB 22 Establishes 11-Member Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
June 5, 2018 NC SB 757 Requires Judicial Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14)
May 16, 2018 LA HB 265 Authorizes Registration and Voting by Individuals Convicted of Felonies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
May 5, 2018 CT HB 5421 Authorizes National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
May 2, 2018 NH HB 1264 Amends Residency Definiton "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
April 12, 2018 NJ A 2014 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at More Locations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
April 5, 2018 CA SB 1171 Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
March 28, 2018 MD HB 829 Establishes No-Excuse Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
March 22, 2018 MD HB 532 Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 16, 2018 MD SB 1048 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
March 6, 2018 WA HB 2595 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
March 5, 2018 MD SB 256 Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
Feb. 28, 2018 WA HB 1513 Authorizes Automatic Voter Pre-Registration for 16 and 17 Year Old Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
Feb. 14, 2018 NM HB 98 Amends Local Elections Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Jan. 3, 2018 NH HB 372 Amends Definition of Residency for Voting Purposes "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/21 S 4347 Limits Corporate Influence and Participation in Political Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
5/20 HB 2911 Amends Election Law to Determine Voter Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
5/14 LD 816 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
5/09 LD 431 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 15)
5/03 HB 5 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/02 SB 7066 Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/02 HB 19-1318 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/02 SB 27 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
4/29 HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/26 SB 2148 Establishes the Creation of an Ethics Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
4/26 HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
4/25 HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
4/24 SB 19-235 Expands Automatic Voter Registration System Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
4/23 SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
4/17 HF 692 Requires Bar Codes on Absentee Ballots to Determine Time of Mailing Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
4/17 HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
4/17 HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
4/11 HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
4/11 SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
4/10 SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
4/10 SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
4/10 SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
4/09 SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
4/03 H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/28 SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
3/28 SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
3/28 SB 67 Amends Definition of Resident and Residency "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
3/26 H 270 Authorizes Public Schools as Election Polling Sites Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/22 S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/12 HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
3/12 SB 214 Exempts Upcoming 2019 Election from Photo ID Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/12 SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/09 SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
3/07 SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
3/05 SB 216 Requires Ballot Recount Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0)
3/04 HB 1094 Increases Transparency in the Petition Circulation Process Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
2/21 S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/14 SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
1/30 SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
1/29 SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
1/15 A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14)
1/14 A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 12)
1/14 A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 6)
1/14 S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13)
12/21 HB 6595 Increases Requirements for State Ballot Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
12/20 SB 1238 Authorizes State Absentee Ballot Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
12/20 SB 1239 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
12/05 SB 884 Reduces Period for Early Voting and Limits Powers of the State Attorney General Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
11/29 SB 1176 Establishes Misdemeanor Crimes for Public Officials Requiring nonprofit groups Disclose Donors Information Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
11/08 SB 1022 Authorizes use of Campaign Finance Funds for Repayment of Debts and Obligations of Campaigns by Former Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
11/08 SB 1022 Authorizes use of Campaign Finance Funds for Repayment of Debts and Obligations of Campaigns by Former Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
10/29 A 4674 Authorizes US Congresspersons to Run for Congress and Presidency during Primary Election Bill Passed - Senate
7/30 H 4834 Establishes Automatic Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (36 - 0)
6/29 HB 1092 Requires Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
6/27 HB 913 Establishes a Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Election Enforcement Amendment Adopted - Senate (32 - 14)
6/26 SB 325 Amends One-Stop Voting Schedules Veto Override Passed - Senate (34 - 12)
6/25 A 3463 Requires Polling Places to Post Count of Voters Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
6/21 AB 216 Authorizes Free Postage for Vote by Mail Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8)
6/19 SB 486 Amends Various Election Laws Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
6/19 S 2612 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 3)
6/13 SB 22 Establishes 11-Member Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
6/05 SB 757 Requires Judicial Redistricting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 14)
5/16 HB 265 Authorizes Registration and Voting by Individuals Convicted of Felonies Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
5/05 HB 5421 Authorizes National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
5/02 HB 1264 Amends Residency Definiton "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
4/12 A 2014 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at More Locations Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
4/05 SB 1171 Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10)
3/28 HB 829 Establishes No-Excuse Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 11)
3/22 HB 532 Establishes Election Day Voter Registration and Same-Day Voting Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/16 SB 1048 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 13)
3/06 HB 2595 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
3/05 SB 256 Requires Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
2/28 HB 1513 Authorizes Automatic Voter Pre-Registration for 16 and 17 Year Old Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
2/14 HB 98 Amends Local Elections Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
1/03 HB 372 Amends Definition of Residency for Voting Purposes "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 9)

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