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 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) |