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 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 | VA | SJ 273 | Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Feb. 9, 2009 | SD | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 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 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
| Feb. 2, 2009 | MT | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
| 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 2081 | Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| May 27, 2008 | RI | S 2112 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 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 | MS | SB 2910 | Changes to Election Law | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| Feb. 26, 2008 | AL | HB 73 | Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 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 | WA | SB 5278 | Public Financing of Local Campaigns | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| Feb. 13, 2008 | SD | SJR 1 | Eliminating Term Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 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 | OR | SB 10 | Legislative Ethics Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4) |
| June 20, 2007 | LA | HB 320 | Extension of Satellite Voting Provisions | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 21) |
| 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 | 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 | SJ 273 | Legislative Restoration of Voting Rights for Nonviolent Felons | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 2/09 | SJR 3 | Extending Senate Terms and Legislative Term-Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 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 81 | Board of Public Education Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (21 - 29) |
| 2/02 | SB 80 | Board of Regents Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (20 - 30) |
| 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 2081 | Allowing Sixteen- and Seventeen-Year-Olds to Pre-register to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 4) |
| 5/27 | S 2112 | National Popular Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 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 | SB 2910 | Changes to Election Law | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 20) |
| 2/26 | HB 73 | Prohibiting Money Transfers Between Political Action Committees | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14) |
| 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 | SB 5278 | Public Financing of Local Campaigns | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 2/13 | SJR 1 | Eliminating Term Limits | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 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 | SB 10 | Legislative Ethics Reform | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 4) |
| 6/20 | HB 320 | Extension of Satellite Voting Provisions | Bill Failed - Senate (16 - 21) |
| 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) |