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 11, 2010 CO SB 203 Independent expenditures in Colorado elections Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
May 10, 2010 TN HB 270 Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
April 14, 2010 IL SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
March 24, 2010 ID H 496 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
March 18, 2010 KY HB 97 Moving Back Primary Dates and Filing Deadlines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
March 17, 2010 GA SB 406 Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
March 1, 2010 AZ SCR 1007 Repealing Legislative Term Limits Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
March 1, 2010 AZ SCR 1009 Repealing Public Funding of Statewide Political Campaigns Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
Feb. 8, 2010 NY A 9544 Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments Veto Override Failed - Senate (35 - 26)
Feb. 2, 2010 KY SB 53 Allowing Independents to Vote in Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
Jan. 25, 2010 VA SB 83 Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Jan. 12, 2010 TN HB 614 Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Dec. 9, 2009 OH SB 8 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Oct. 15, 2009 IL HJRCA 31 Authorizing Governor Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1)
Sept. 23, 2009 OH SJR 5 Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
Sept. 22, 2009 MA H 4246 Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Sept. 14, 2009 National S Amdt 2355 Prohibiting Funding for ACORN Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7)
June 30, 2009 RI H 5005 Voter Pre-Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
June 18, 2009 TN HB 614 Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 14)
June 16, 2009 TN SB 162 Creation of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
June 15, 2009 OR HB 2005 Petition Regulation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
June 15, 2009 LA HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
May 29, 2009 CT SB 913 Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
May 28, 2009 IL HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
May 21, 2009 NJ A 2451 Vote by Mail Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
May 11, 2009 MN SF 1331 Changing Early Voting and Special Election Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27)
April 29, 2009 IN HB 1491 St. Joseph Superior Court Judges Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18)
April 29, 2009 ND SCR 4038 Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
April 15, 2009 WA HB 1517 Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
April 8, 2009 OK HB 1601 Regulating Attorney Election Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
April 3, 2009 GA SB 86 Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
March 23, 2009 VT Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19)
March 17, 2009 NM SB 263 Requiring State Contractors to Disclose Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
March 12, 2009 WA SB 5599 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 11, 2009 TX SB 362 Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
March 11, 2009 UT HB 345 Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
March 10, 2009 OK SB 4 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
Feb. 27, 2009 VT S 34 Presidential Election by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 10)
Feb. 26, 2009 National S 160 Washington DC Voting Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
Feb. 20, 2009 MT SB 394 Expanding Mail Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
Feb. 10, 2009 MT SB 243 Majority Vote Requirement for General Elections Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
Feb. 9, 2009 SD SJR 3 Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Feb. 9, 2009 VA SJ 273 Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
Feb. 9, 2009 VA SJ 354 Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19)
Feb. 6, 2009 MT SB 187 Limitations on Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2009 MS SB 2548 Identification Requirements to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
Feb. 2, 2009 MT SB 80 Board of Regents Elections Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30)
Feb. 2, 2009 MT SB 81 Board of Public Education Elections Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29)
Jan. 26, 2009 VA SB 810 Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
Jan. 21, 2009 WY SF 12 Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
Dec. 9, 2008 OH SB 380 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
Aug. 29, 2008 CA AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
July 29, 2008 MA S 2807 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
June 28, 2008 WV HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
June 17, 2008 RI H 7106 Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
May 27, 2008 RI S 2112 National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
May 27, 2008 RI S 2081 Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
May 22, 2008 MS SB 2004 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
May 6, 2008 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3)
May 6, 2008 OK SB 1150 Voter Identification Requirement Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
May 5, 2008 CO HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 1, 2008 IL SJRCA 70 Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19)
April 23, 2008 CO HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
April 23, 2008 DE SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
April 22, 2008 VT S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
March 31, 2008 CO HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 19, 2008 ID S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
March 12, 2008 IA SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
March 11, 2008 DE SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
Feb. 28, 2008 WY HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
Feb. 26, 2008 AL HB 73 Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Feb. 26, 2008 MS SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 21, 2008 MS SB 2468 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
Feb. 21, 2008 MO SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Feb. 19, 2008 CA GN Borucki Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3)
Feb. 19, 2008 KY SFA 1 Presidential Primaries Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 12)
Feb. 19, 2008 GA SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
Feb. 19, 2008 WI SB 171 Financing of Judicial Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 19, 2008 KY SB 148 Regulations for Campaign Financing Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Feb. 18, 2008 WA SB 5628 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
Feb. 13, 2008 NM HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
Feb. 13, 2008 SD SJR 1 Eliminating Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
Feb. 13, 2008 WA SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Feb. 7, 2008 NH SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
Feb. 6, 2008 NE LB 39 Restricting Petition Circulation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
Jan. 30, 2008 KY SB 3 Primary Elections Date Change Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
Jan. 3, 2008 NJ A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
Nov. 15, 2007 MA S 2414 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Sept. 18, 2007 National S 1257 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
Aug. 22, 2007 MI SB 624 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
Aug. 2, 2007 National S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
June 20, 2007 LA HB 320 Extension of Satellite Voting Provisions Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 21)
June 20, 2007 OR SB 10 Legislative Ethics Reform Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
June 19, 2007 SC S 99 Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 7)
June 18, 2007 OR SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
May 21, 2007 TN SJR 139 Popular Election of Statewide Officers Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
May 15, 2007 IL HB 426 Earlier Presidential Primary Date Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 10)
May 14, 2007 NC CS SB 954 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
May 11, 2007 MN SF 893 Earlier Precinct Caucus Date Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 9)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/11 SB 203 Independent expenditures in Colorado elections Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
5/10 HB 270 Citizenship Status for Voting and Registration Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 12)
4/14 SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
3/24 H 496 Requiring Photo Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
3/18 HB 97 Moving Back Primary Dates and Filing Deadlines Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 15)
3/17 SB 406 Online Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 20)
3/01 SCR 1007 Repealing Legislative Term Limits Resolution Passed - Senate (18 - 11)
3/01 SCR 1009 Repealing Public Funding of Statewide Political Campaigns Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 12)
2/08 A 9544 Election and Campaign Finance Ethics Amendments Veto Override Failed - Senate (35 - 26)
2/02 SB 53 Allowing Independents to Vote in Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
1/25 SB 83 Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
1/12 HB 614 Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
12/09 SB 8 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
10/15 HJRCA 31 Authorizing Governor Recall Elections Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (56 - 1)
9/23 SJR 5 Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
9/22 H 4246 Authorizing Governor to Appoint Interim U.S. Senator Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
9/14 S Amdt 2355 Prohibiting Funding for ACORN Amendment Adopted - Senate (83 - 7)
6/30 H 5005 Voter Pre-Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 4)
6/18 HB 614 Delaying Paper Ballot Requirements Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 14)
6/16 SB 162 Creation of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 11)
6/15 HB 2005 Petition Regulation Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
6/15 HB 504 Jefferson Parish School Board Elections Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
5/29 SB 913 Elections to Fill US Senate Vacancies Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
5/28 HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 22)
5/21 A 2451 Vote by Mail Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 14)
5/11 SF 1331 Changing Early Voting and Special Election Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 27)
4/29 HB 1491 St. Joseph Superior Court Judges Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18)
4/29 SCR 4038 Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23)
4/15 HB 1517 Expediting the Restoration of Felons' Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 19)
4/08 HB 1601 Regulating Attorney Election Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 22)
4/03 SB 86 Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 13)
3/23 Same-Sex Marriage Ballot Question Amendment Rejected - Senate (11 - 19)
3/17 SB 263 Requiring State Contractors to Disclose Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11)
3/12 SB 5599 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/11 SB 362 Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
3/11 HB 345 Regulating Former Lawmakers in Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13)
3/10 SB 4 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 21)
2/27 S 34 Presidential Election by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 10)
2/26 S 160 Washington DC Voting Act Bill Passed - Senate (61 - 37)
2/20 SB 394 Expanding Mail Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
2/10 SB 243 Majority Vote Requirement for General Elections Bill Failed - Senate (23 - 27)
2/09 SJR 3 Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
2/09 SJ 273 Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
2/09 SJ 354 Civil Rights for Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (19 - 19)
2/06 SB 187 Limitations on Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 23)
2/04 SB 2548 Identification Requirements to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 17)
2/02 SB 80 Board of Regents Elections Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30)
2/02 SB 81 Board of Public Education Elections Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29)
1/26 SB 810 Authorizing No-Excuse, In-Person Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
1/21 SF 12 Increasing Campaign Contribution Limit Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 12)
12/09 SB 380 Election Law Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
8/29 AB 583 Public Financing of Elections Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
7/29 S 2807 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
6/28 HB 219 Nonbroadcast Political Advertisements Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 9)
6/17 H 7106 Allow Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 4)
5/27 S 2112 National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
5/27 S 2081 Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4)
5/22 SB 2004 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
5/06 HB 2019 Voter Identification Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 3)
5/06 SB 1150 Voter Identification Requirement Concurrence Vote Failed - Senate (24 - 23)
5/05 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
5/05 HB 1378 Allowing Ranked Voting Methods Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/01 SJRCA 70 Constitutional Amendment to recall certain elected officials Bill Failed - Senate (33 - 19)
4/23 HB 1329 Voter Registration Confirmation Card Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
4/23 SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Passed - Senate (15 - 5)
4/22 S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
3/31 HB 1233 Limited Liability Company Campaign Donation Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/19 S 1484 Disclosing Fiscal Impacts of Citizens Initiatives Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
3/12 SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
3/11 SB 195 Election Day Alcohol Sales Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 11)
2/28 HB 9 Limitations on Campaign Contributions Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 9)
2/26 HB 73 Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
2/26 SB 2910 Changes to Election Law Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20)
2/21 SB 2468 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
2/21 SB 1038 Repealing Campaign Contribution Limits Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
2/19 GN Borucki Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3)
2/19 SFA 1 Presidential Primaries Amendment Adopted - Senate (24 - 12)
2/19 SB 379 Automatic Calling Device Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9)
2/19 SB 171 Financing of Judicial Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/19 SB 148 Regulations for Campaign Financing Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
2/18 SB 5628 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
2/13 HB 237 Mandatory Election Recounts Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 17)
2/13 SJR 1 Eliminating Term Limits Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
2/13 SB 5278 Public Financing of Local Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
2/07 SB 436 Reducing the Voting Age for Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 6)
2/06 LB 39 Restricting Petition Circulation Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 14)
1/30 SB 3 Primary Elections Date Change Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14)
1/03 A 4225 National Popular Vote Act Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
11/15 S 2414 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
9/18 S 1257 District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 42)
8/22 SB 624 Presidential Primary Date Change Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17)
8/02 S 1 Lobbying and Donation Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (83 - 14)
6/20 HB 320 Extension of Satellite Voting Provisions Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 21)
6/20 SB 10 Legislative Ethics Reform Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4)
6/19 S 99 Presidential Primaries Conducted by the State Election Commission Veto Override Passed - Senate (36 - 7)
6/18 SB 863 Regulating Automated Phone Calls Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 8)
5/21 SJR 139 Popular Election of Statewide Officers Resolution Passed - Senate (19 - 12)
5/15 HB 426 Earlier Presidential Primary Date Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 10)
5/14 CS SB 954 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
5/11 SF 893 Earlier Precinct Caucus Date Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 9)

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