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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
May 10, 2007 RI S 21 Telephone Political Solicitation Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
May 9, 2007 WI SB 77 Financial Disclosure For Issue Based Groups Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
April 26, 2007 TN SA 3 PAC-to-PAC Contribution Limits Bill Tabled - Senate (16 - 13)
April 16, 2007 TN SB 227 Voter ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
April 9, 2007 WA HB 1528 Electronic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 9, 2007 MD HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 28, 2007 KS HB 2019 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
March 28, 2007 MD SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
March 27, 2007 IA HF 653 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
March 23, 2007 MD SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
March 3, 2007 SD HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
Feb. 22, 2007 SD HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
Feb. 22, 2007 KS Sub SB 152 Elections for Senate Vacancies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 20, 2007 MD SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
Feb. 15, 2007 KS SB 169 Identification Requirement to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
Feb. 13, 2007 CA SB 113 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
Feb. 8, 2007 MT SB 290 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30)
Feb. 7, 2007 MS SB 2617 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
Feb. 6, 2007 SD SJR 7 Extension of Term Limits Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
Feb. 5, 2007 ND SB 2143 Clean Election Fund Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 33)
Jan. 31, 2007 ND SB 2230 Mail Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
Jan. 29, 2007 VA SB 920 Requirements For Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Jan. 25, 2007 VA SJ 307 Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 288 Appointment of the Secretary of State Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 286 Appointment of the Superintendent of Education Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 287 The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 284 The Appointment of the Adjutant General Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 285 The Appointment of the Comptroller General Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11)
Jan. 24, 2007 SC S 101 Reorganization of the State Government Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23)
Jan. 23, 2007 VA SJ 352 Creation of a Bipartisan Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Dec. 4, 2006 NJ S 2193 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
Aug. 16, 2006 CA SCA 3 Redistricting Commission Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
July 19, 2006 NC HB 1024 Instant Runoff Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
July 13, 2006 MA H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
June 14, 2006 SC H 4410 Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (8 - 29)
June 13, 2006 RI H 6874 Ballot Questions from Governor Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
May 11, 2006 MO CCS2 HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 Voter Identification and Poll Regulation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10)
May 11, 2006 MO CCS SS HCS HB 1900 Campaign Finance and Lobbying Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5)
May 10, 2006 KS SB 142 Campaign Finance Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11)
May 4, 2006 IL HB 1918 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16)
May 3, 2006 PA SB 999 Voting Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
May 3, 2006 RI S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
April 24, 2006 MO SS2 SCS SB 1014 Voter Identification and Poll Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
April 17, 2006 CO SB 223 Interstate Compact for the Election of the President of the United States by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
April 13, 2006 NH HB 345 Photo ID for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
April 12, 2006 NE LR 449 Impeachment of C. David Hergert Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
April 10, 2006 MD HB 1368 Election Changes Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
April 10, 2006 MD HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
April 3, 2006 NE LB 188 Campaign Finance Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
March 31, 2006 MD HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
Feb. 28, 2006 IN HB 1011 Miscellaneous Election Law Matters Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
Feb. 22, 2006 SD S Amdt 1215re Abortion Ban on Ballot Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 20)
Feb. 15, 2006 PA HB 1318 Voter Identification Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 20)
Feb. 14, 2006 LA HB 12 Elections; Voting; State of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
Feb. 9, 2006 MS SB 2309 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
Feb. 9, 2006 NM SB 344 Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4)
Feb. 6, 2006 MS SB 2119 School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
Feb. 6, 2006 VA Sub SB 313 DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Jan. 31, 2006 OH HB 3 Election Law Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 12)
Jan. 24, 2006 GA SB 84 Voter Identification Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
Jan. 12, 2006 GA SB 386 State Senatorial District Composition Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
Oct. 16, 2002 National HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
April 11, 2002 National S 565 Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
March 20, 2002 National HR 2356 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40)
Feb. 27, 2002 National S Amdt 2937 Allowing Signatures for Voter Registration by Mail Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (46 - 51)
April 2, 2001 National S 27 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
March 26, 2001 National S Amdt 145 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
March 21, 2001 National S Amdt 134 Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
March 20, 2001 National S Amdt 115 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
June 29, 2000 National HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
July 30, 1998 National S Amdt 3379 Federal Election Commission Term Length Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 54)
Feb. 26, 1998 National S Amdt 1646 Campaign Finance Reform Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
June 25, 1996 National S 1219 Campaign Finance Reform bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
July 20, 1993 National HR 20 Hatch Act Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
May 11, 1993 National HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 36)
March 17, 1993 National HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 37)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/10 S 21 Telephone Political Solicitation Act Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13)
5/09 SB 77 Financial Disclosure For Issue Based Groups Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 7)
4/26 SA 3 PAC-to-PAC Contribution Limits Bill Tabled - Senate (16 - 13)
4/16 SB 227 Voter ID Act Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 10)
4/09 HB 1528 Electronic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/09 HB 148 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/28 HB 2019 Voter Identification Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 14)
3/28 SB 634 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 17)
3/27 HF 653 Election Day Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
3/23 SB 488 Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 19)
3/03 HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 16)
2/22 HB 1048 Campaign Contribution Reform Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 11)
2/22 Sub SB 152 Elections for Senate Vacancies Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
2/20 SB 1 Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 16)
2/15 SB 169 Identification Requirement to Vote Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 12)
2/13 SB 113 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
2/08 SB 290 Presidential Election by Popular Vote Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30)
2/07 SB 2617 Voter Identification Requirement Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 15)
2/06 SJR 7 Extension of Term Limits Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (17 - 18)
2/05 SB 2143 Clean Election Fund Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 33)
1/31 SB 2230 Mail Ballot Elections Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 14)
1/29 SB 920 Requirements For Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
1/25 SJ 307 Voting Rights of Nonviolent Felons Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
1/24 S 288 Appointment of the Secretary of State Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 13)
1/24 S 286 Appointment of the Superintendent of Education Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 19)
1/24 S 287 The Appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (30 - 15)
1/24 S 284 The Appointment of the Adjutant General Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (27 - 18)
1/24 S 285 The Appointment of the Comptroller General Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (32 - 11)
1/24 S 101 Reorganization of the State Government Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (22 - 23)
1/23 SJ 352 Creation of a Bipartisan Redistricting Commission Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
12/04 S 2193 Presidential Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 5)
8/16 SCA 3 Redistricting Commission Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 11)
7/19 HB 1024 Instant Runoff Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
7/13 H 126 Unsigned Political Posters Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 6)
6/14 H 4410 Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements Bill Veto Override Failed - Senate (8 - 29)
6/13 H 6874 Ballot Questions from Governor Veto Override Passed - Senate (28 - 9)
5/11 CCS2 HCS SS2 SCS SB 1014 Voter Identification and Poll Regulation Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 10)
5/11 CCS SS HCS HB 1900 Campaign Finance and Lobbying Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 5)
5/10 SB 142 Campaign Finance Conference Report Adopted - Senate (28 - 11)
5/04 HB 1918 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 16)
5/03 SB 999 Voting Standards Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (36 - 13)
5/03 S 2486 Ex-Felon's Voting Eligibility Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
4/24 SS2 SCS SB 1014 Voter Identification and Poll Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 9)
4/17 SB 223 Interstate Compact for the Election of the President of the United States by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
4/13 HB 345 Photo ID for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 9)
4/12 LR 449 Impeachment of C. David Hergert Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 22)
4/10 HB 1368 Election Changes Veto Override Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
4/10 HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Veto Override Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
4/03 LB 188 Campaign Finance Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
3/31 HB 1674 Restrictions on Campaign Fund-Raising Activities by Members of the Board of Regents Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 17)
2/28 HB 1011 Miscellaneous Election Law Matters Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15)
2/22 S Amdt 1215re Abortion Ban on Ballot Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 20)
2/15 HB 1318 Voter Identification Requirements Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 20)
2/14 HB 12 Elections; Voting; State of Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16)
2/09 SB 2309 Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 18)
2/09 SB 344 Campaign Contributions by Procurement Contractors Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 4)
2/06 SB 2119 School Board Elections, Superintendent Appointments, and Consolidation Issues Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 20)
2/06 Sub SB 313 DMV Reporting Requirements for Non-citizens Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
1/31 HB 3 Election Law Reform Bill Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 12)
1/24 SB 84 Voter Identification Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 22)
1/12 SB 386 State Senatorial District Composition Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 18)
10/16 HR 3295 Help America Vote Act of 2002 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (92 - 2)
4/11 S 565 Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (99 - 1)
3/20 HR 2356 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40)
2/27 S Amdt 2937 Allowing Signatures for Voter Registration by Mail Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (46 - 51)
4/02 S 27 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
3/26 S Amdt 145 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
3/21 S Amdt 134 Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
3/20 S Amdt 115 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
6/29 HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
7/30 S Amdt 3379 Federal Election Commission Term Length Amendment Not Tabled - Senate (45 - 54)
2/26 S Amdt 1646 Campaign Finance Reform Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
6/25 S 1219 Campaign Finance Reform bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
7/20 HR 20 Hatch Act Reform Bill Bill Passed - Senate (68 - 31)
5/11 HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (62 - 36)
3/17 HR 2 Motor Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 37)

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