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 8, 2014 | CA | SB 27 | Requires Certain Nonprofit Organizations to Disclose Donors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| May 2, 2014 | MN | SF 2099 | Requires Political Contributions by Corporations to be Subject to the Individual Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 23) |
| May 2, 2014 | CT | SB 455 | Amends the Funding for the Public Campaign Finance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| April 29, 2014 | MN | HF 2096 | Authorizes Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| April 10, 2014 | MO | SB 892 | Amends Presidential Primary Dates | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| March 18, 2014 | KY | SB 205 | Authorizes a Candidate to Appear on a Ballot Twice | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| March 12, 2014 | KS | HB 2210 | Amends the Date by Which a Voter May Change Party Affiliation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| March 12, 2014 | WI | SB 655 | Amends Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| March 12, 2014 | WI | SB 324 | Amends the Absentee Voting Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| Feb. 27, 2014 | AZ | SB 1344 | Amends Responsibilities of Clean Elections Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | CA | AB 800 | Authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to Conduct Audits and Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | AZ | HB 2196 | Repeals Certain Elections Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| Feb. 19, 2014 | OH | SB 238 | Reduces Number of Absentee Voting Days | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| Feb. 19, 2014 | OH | SB 205 | Amends Absentee Ballot Voting Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| Feb. 5, 2014 | TN | SJR 123 | Requires Election of Attorney General Position | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14) |
| Jan. 16, 2014 | VT | S 82 | Amends Campaign Finance Law | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8) |
| Dec. 12, 2013 | MI | SB 661 | Amends Campaign Finance Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| Nov. 14, 2013 | MI | SB 661 | Amends Campaign Finance Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| Aug. 23, 2013 | KY | HB 1 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| July 25, 2013 | NC | HB 589 | Amends Voter Registration Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| July 8, 2013 | CA | AB 817 | Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| July 7, 2013 | OR | HB 3521 | Requires Voter Registration Agencies to Provide Records for Automatic Registration | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| June 23, 2013 | TX | SB 3 | State House Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| June 14, 2013 | TX | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| June 13, 2013 | AZ | HB 2305 | Amends Voting Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13) |
| June 4, 2013 | CT | HB 6580 | Authorizes Unlimited Spending in State Legislative Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 28, 2013 | OR | SB 154 | Requires Signature Gathering Firms to Meet Certain Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| May 23, 2013 | NV | AB 440 | Extends Voter Registration Period | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 23, 2013 | NV | AB 441 | Authorizes Voting Centers for All Eligible Voters in a City or County | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| May 20, 2013 | AL | SB 445 | Repeals Limits on Campaign Financing | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 15, 2013 | IL | HB 226 | Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 9) |
| May 8, 2013 | CT | HJR 36 | Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| May 2, 2013 | CO | HB 1303 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| April 30, 2013 | ME | SP 548 | Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| April 19, 2013 | MT | SB 405 | Repeals Same-Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| April 19, 2013 | MT | SB 408 | Limits General Election Candidates to Top 2 From Primary Election | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| April 18, 2013 | AZ | HB 2282 | Requires a Primary During Recall Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 18) |
| April 9, 2013 | AR | HB 1855 | Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| April 9, 2013 | AZ | HB 2593 | Amends Campaign Finance Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| April 8, 2013 | MD | HB 224 | Amends Voting Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| April 8, 2013 | MT | HB 30 | Prohibits Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| March 28, 2013 | MT | HB 217 | Exempts Religious Organizations from Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| March 27, 2013 | AR | SB 2 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| March 26, 2013 | KY | SB 13 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| March 20, 2013 | OH | SB 47 | Prohibits Collection of Petition Signatures after Filing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| March 19, 2013 | AR | SB 2 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| March 19, 2013 | TX | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| March 18, 2013 | NJ | S 2364 | Requires Early Voting to be Available for Certain Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| March 14, 2013 | KS | HB 2022 | Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| March 11, 2013 | ID | S 1108 | Increases Petition Signature Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/08 | SB 27 | Requires Certain Nonprofit Organizations to Disclose Donors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| 5/02 | SF 2099 | Requires Political Contributions by Corporations to be Subject to the Individual Income Tax | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 23) |
| 5/02 | SB 455 | Amends the Funding for the Public Campaign Finance Program | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10) |
| 4/29 | HF 2096 | Authorizes Online Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 4/10 | SB 892 | Amends Presidential Primary Dates | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7) |
| 3/18 | SB 205 | Authorizes a Candidate to Appear on a Ballot Twice | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| 3/12 | HB 2210 | Amends the Date by Which a Voter May Change Party Affiliation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| 3/12 | SB 655 | Amends Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| 3/12 | SB 324 | Amends the Absentee Voting Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16) |
| 2/27 | SB 1344 | Amends Responsibilities of Clean Elections Commission | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/20 | AB 800 | Authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to Conduct Audits and Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 2/20 | HB 2196 | Repeals Certain Elections Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12) |
| 2/19 | SB 238 | Reduces Number of Absentee Voting Days | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 2/19 | SB 205 | Amends Absentee Ballot Voting Laws | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 2/05 | SJR 123 | Requires Election of Attorney General Position | Amendment Rejected - Senate (15 - 14) |
| 1/16 | S 82 | Amends Campaign Finance Law | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8) |
| 12/12 | SB 661 | Amends Campaign Finance Regulations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| 11/14 | SB 661 | Amends Campaign Finance Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18) |
| 8/23 | HB 1 | State Legislative Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 2) |
| 7/25 | HB 589 | Amends Voter Registration Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14) |
| 7/08 | AB 817 | Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| 7/07 | HB 3521 | Requires Voter Registration Agencies to Provide Records for Automatic Registration | Bill Failed - Senate (14 - 16) |
| 6/23 | SB 3 | State House Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| 6/14 | SB 4 | Congressional Redistricting | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 11) |
| 6/13 | HB 2305 | Amends Voting Procedures | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (16 - 13) |
| 6/04 | HB 6580 | Authorizes Unlimited Spending in State Legislative Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/28 | SB 154 | Requires Signature Gathering Firms to Meet Certain Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14) |
| 5/23 | AB 440 | Extends Voter Registration Period | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/23 | AB 441 | Authorizes Voting Centers for All Eligible Voters in a City or County | Bill Passed - Senate (11 - 10) |
| 5/20 | SB 445 | Repeals Limits on Campaign Financing | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 5/15 | HB 226 | Authorizes 17 Year Olds to Vote in Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 9) |
| 5/08 | HJR 36 | Authorizes Early and Absentee Voting | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 5/02 | HB 1303 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15) |
| 4/30 | SP 548 | Urges Congress to Adopt a Constitutional Amendment Regarding Campaign Finance | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (25 - 9) |
| 4/19 | SB 405 | Repeals Same-Day Voter Registration | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 4/19 | SB 408 | Limits General Election Candidates to Top 2 From Primary Election | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 4/18 | HB 2282 | Requires a Primary During Recall Elections | Bill Failed - Senate (10 - 18) |
| 4/09 | HB 1855 | Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 13) |
| 4/09 | HB 2593 | Amends Campaign Finance Limits | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| 4/08 | HB 224 | Amends Voting Procedures | Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11) |
| 4/08 | HB 30 | Prohibits Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21) |
| 3/28 | HB 217 | Exempts Religious Organizations from Campaign Finance Reporting Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22) |
| 3/27 | SB 2 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Veto Override Passed - Senate (21 - 12) |
| 3/26 | SB 13 | Authorizes the Sale of Alcohol on Election Days | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 3/20 | SB 47 | Prohibits Collection of Petition Signatures after Filing | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 10) |
| 3/19 | SB 2 | Requires Photo Identification to Vote | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 12) |
| 3/19 | SJR 13 | Establishes Term Limits For Certain Elected Officials | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| 3/18 | S 2364 | Requires Early Voting to be Available for Certain Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 3/14 | HB 2022 | Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16) |
| 3/11 | S 1108 | Increases Petition Signature Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |