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 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)

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