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
Feb. 12, 2025 National PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
Feb. 12, 2025 National PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
Feb. 12, 2025 WY HB 337 Prohibits Political Groups Including PACS and Organizations Influencing State Policy from Allowing Foreign Nationals to Fund or Participate in the Initiative Bill Passed - House (58 - 2)
Feb. 12, 2025 MS SB 2267 Establishes a Centralized Database for the State of Mississippi Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
Feb. 12, 2025 AZ HB 2703 Amends the State Ballot Counting Process Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
Feb. 12, 2025 AR SB 211 Requires Canvassers to File an Affidavit Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Feb. 12, 2025 AR SB 208 Requires Canvassers to Request a Photo ID of Potential Signers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Feb. 12, 2025 AR SB 207 Requires Canvassers to Disclose Warnings on Petition Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
Feb. 12, 2025 AR SB 209 Prohibits Signatures Gathered by Canvassers Which Violated State Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
Feb. 12, 2025 National HR 77 Midnight Rules Relief Act Bill Passed - House (212 - 208)
Feb. 11, 2025 KS HB 2027 Amends and Reorganizes Subsections of the Public Assistance Statute Bill Passed - House (88 - 35)
Feb. 11, 2025 MS SB 2654 Authorizes Early Voting 15-Days Before an Election Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
Feb. 11, 2025 MS SB 2654 Authorizes Early Voting 15-Days Before an Election Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
Feb. 11, 2025 IN SB 326 Prohibits Local Governments From Hosting or Funding "Obscene" Performances Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
Feb. 10, 2025 National PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 10, 2025 AR SB 182 Requires Local Governments to Continue Operating Under Annual Appropriation Ordinances Until a New Ordinance is Adopted Bill Passed - House (92 - 0)
Feb. 10, 2025 ID SCR 103 Establishes Bipartisan Working Group to Study Housing Availability and Affordability Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
Feb. 10, 2025 SD HB 1130 Amends the Date for School Board and Municipal Elections Bill Passed - House (52 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2025 SD HB 1184 Amends the Deadline for Filing a Petition to get a Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot Bill Passed - House (59 - 9)
Feb. 10, 2025 SD HB 1184 Amends the Deadline for Filing a Petition to get a Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot Bill Passed - House (59 - 9)
Feb. 7, 2025 WY SF 100 Establishes Protections for Minors Testifying in Court Against Their Accused Abusers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
Feb. 7, 2025 AK SB 87 Prohibits a Lawmaker's Salaries from Automatic Inflation Adjustment Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 0)
Feb. 7, 2025 UT HB 81 Prohibits Adding Fluoride to Public Water Systems Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
Feb. 7, 2025 MT HB 221 Amends Municipal Election Dates from Odd to Even-Numbered Years Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
Feb. 7, 2025 MT HB 221 Amends Municipal Election Dates from Odd to Even-Numbered Years Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
Feb. 6, 2025 NH HB 511 Prohibits Sanctuary City Policies in the State "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (351 - 6)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-18 Nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 45)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-12 Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-9 Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 6, 2025 National PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 47)
Feb. 6, 2025 MS HB 1431 Establishes a Charter School Task Force to Study Efficiency and Feasibility Bill Passed - House (79 - 19)
Feb. 6, 2025 MS SB 2515 Prohibits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs at Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
Feb. 5, 2025 National PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44)
Feb. 5, 2025 National PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
Feb. 5, 2025 SD SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - House (38 - 29)
Feb. 5, 2025 AR SB 182 Requires Local Governments to Continue Operating Under Annual Appropriation Ordinances Until a New Ordinance is Adopted Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
Feb. 5, 2025 KS SB 6 Prohibits the Use of Ranked-Choice Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Feb. 5, 2025 SD HB 1127 Requires that Notice of a County's Canvass, Post-Election Audit, and Testing of Automatic Tabulating Equipment be Posted to the Secretary of State's Website Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
Feb. 5, 2025 SD HB 1127 Requires that Notice of a County's Canvass, Post-Election Audit, and Testing of Automatic Tabulating Equipment be Posted to the Secretary of State's Website Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
Feb. 5, 2025 KS HCR 5004 Amends Constitutional Citizenship Requirement for Voting Joint Resolution Passed - House (90 - 28)
Feb. 5, 2025 KS SB 4 Establishes Deadline for Returning Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Feb. 4, 2025 National PN 11-2 Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 46)
Feb. 4, 2025 National PN 11-5 Nomination of Douglas Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 23)
Feb. 4, 2025 National PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2056 Authorizes Localities to Set Hours of Operation for Satellite Voting Locations Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
Feb. 4, 2025 IN SB 10 Prohibits Use of School IDs for Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
Feb. 4, 2025 IN HB 1095 Expands the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force to include Lake County Bill Passed - House (89 - 0)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2165 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA SB 1002 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2668 Establishes Procedures for the Removal of Electoral Board Members Bill Passed - House (77 - 21)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2277 Establishes Regulations for Electoral Board Members Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2277 Establishes Regulations for Electoral Board Members Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2002 Prohibits the Cancellation of the Voter Registration of Deployed Service Members Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2276 Establishes Guidelines for Verifying and Protecting Voter Registration Information Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2276 Establishes Guidelines for Verifying and Protecting Voter Registration Information Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 1657 Establishes Timelines for Removal of Ineligible Voters Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
Feb. 3, 2025 AR HB 1056 Establishes a Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
Feb. 3, 2025 CA SB 2 Appropriates $25 Million for the State Department of Justice to Pay for Legal Battles Involving the Federal Government Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
Feb. 3, 2025 CA SB 2 Appropriates $25 Million for the State Department of Justice to Pay for Legal Battles Involving the Federal Government Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
Feb. 3, 2025 SD SB 7 Prohibits Sanctuary City Policies in the State Bill Passed - House (62 - 6)
Feb. 3, 2025 National PN 11-2 Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
Feb. 3, 2025 National PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Motion Agreed - Senate (51 - 46)
Feb. 3, 2025 ND HB 1263 Amends State Criminal Records Sealing Laws Bill Passed - House (93 - 0)
Jan. 31, 2025 VA HJR 1 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Enshrining Rights to Abortion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 31, 2025 VA HJR 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 31, 2025 VA HJR 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 30, 2025 NJ A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26)
Jan. 30, 2025 National PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 38)
Jan. 30, 2025 National PN 11-3 Nomination of Douglas Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (79 - 18)
Jan. 30, 2025 National PN 11-3 Nomination of Douglas Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (79 - 18)
Jan. 30, 2025 NJ A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Jan. 30, 2025 ID H 14 Requires State Agencies to Recommend Laws for Removal and Repeal Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
Jan. 30, 2025 ID H 14 Requires State Agencies to Recommend Laws for Removal and Repeal Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/12 PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48)
2/12 PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
2/12 HB 337 Prohibits Political Groups Including PACS and Organizations Influencing State Policy from Allowing Foreign Nationals to Fund or Participate in the Initiative Bill Passed - House (58 - 2)
2/12 SB 2267 Establishes a Centralized Database for the State of Mississippi Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
2/12 HB 2703 Amends the State Ballot Counting Process Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
2/12 SB 211 Requires Canvassers to File an Affidavit Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
2/12 SB 208 Requires Canvassers to Request a Photo ID of Potential Signers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
2/12 SB 207 Requires Canvassers to Disclose Warnings on Petition Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
2/12 SB 209 Prohibits Signatures Gathered by Canvassers Which Violated State Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
2/12 HR 77 Midnight Rules Relief Act Bill Passed - House (212 - 208)
2/11 HB 2027 Amends and Reorganizes Subsections of the Public Assistance Statute Bill Passed - House (88 - 35)
2/11 SB 2654 Authorizes Early Voting 15-Days Before an Election Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
2/11 SB 2654 Authorizes Early Voting 15-Days Before an Election Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
2/11 SB 326 Prohibits Local Governments From Hosting or Funding "Obscene" Performances Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
2/10 PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
2/10 SB 182 Requires Local Governments to Continue Operating Under Annual Appropriation Ordinances Until a New Ordinance is Adopted Bill Passed - House (92 - 0)
2/10 SCR 103 Establishes Bipartisan Working Group to Study Housing Availability and Affordability Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (23 - 10)
2/10 HB 1130 Amends the Date for School Board and Municipal Elections Bill Passed - House (52 - 16)
2/10 HB 1184 Amends the Deadline for Filing a Petition to get a Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot Bill Passed - House (59 - 9)
2/10 HB 1184 Amends the Deadline for Filing a Petition to get a Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot Bill Passed - House (59 - 9)
2/07 SF 100 Establishes Protections for Minors Testifying in Court Against Their Accused Abusers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4)
2/07 SB 87 Prohibits a Lawmaker's Salaries from Automatic Inflation Adjustment Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 0)
2/07 HB 81 Prohibits Adding Fluoride to Public Water Systems Bill Passed - House (51 - 19)
2/07 HB 221 Amends Municipal Election Dates from Odd to Even-Numbered Years Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
2/07 HB 221 Amends Municipal Election Dates from Odd to Even-Numbered Years Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
2/06 PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47)
2/06 HB 511 Prohibits Sanctuary City Policies in the State "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (351 - 6)
2/06 PN 11-18 Nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 45)
2/06 PN 11-12 Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/06 PN 11-9 Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/06 PN 11-16 Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46)
2/06 PN 11-8 Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 47)
2/06 HB 1431 Establishes a Charter School Task Force to Study Efficiency and Feasibility Bill Passed - House (79 - 19)
2/06 SB 2515 Prohibits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs at Institutions of Higher Education Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
2/05 PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44)
2/05 PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47)
2/05 SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - House (38 - 29)
2/05 SB 182 Requires Local Governments to Continue Operating Under Annual Appropriation Ordinances Until a New Ordinance is Adopted Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
2/05 SB 6 Prohibits the Use of Ranked-Choice Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
2/05 HB 1127 Requires that Notice of a County's Canvass, Post-Election Audit, and Testing of Automatic Tabulating Equipment be Posted to the Secretary of State's Website Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
2/05 HB 1127 Requires that Notice of a County's Canvass, Post-Election Audit, and Testing of Automatic Tabulating Equipment be Posted to the Secretary of State's Website Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
2/05 HCR 5004 Amends Constitutional Citizenship Requirement for Voting Joint Resolution Passed - House (90 - 28)
2/05 SB 4 Establishes Deadline for Returning Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
2/04 PN 11-2 Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 46)
2/04 PN 11-5 Nomination of Douglas Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 23)
2/04 PN 11-14 Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45)
2/04 HB 2056 Authorizes Localities to Set Hours of Operation for Satellite Voting Locations Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
2/04 SB 10 Prohibits Use of School IDs for Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
2/04 HB 1095 Expands the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force to include Lake County Bill Passed - House (89 - 0)
2/04 HB 2165 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)
2/04 SB 1002 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
2/04 HB 2668 Establishes Procedures for the Removal of Electoral Board Members Bill Passed - House (77 - 21)
2/04 HB 2277 Establishes Regulations for Electoral Board Members Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
2/04 HB 2277 Establishes Regulations for Electoral Board Members Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
2/04 HB 2002 Prohibits the Cancellation of the Voter Registration of Deployed Service Members Bill Passed - House (52 - 46)
2/04 HB 2276 Establishes Guidelines for Verifying and Protecting Voter Registration Information Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
2/04 HB 2276 Establishes Guidelines for Verifying and Protecting Voter Registration Information Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
2/04 HB 1657 Establishes Timelines for Removal of Ineligible Voters Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
2/03 HB 1056 Establishes a Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
2/03 SB 2 Appropriates $25 Million for the State Department of Justice to Pay for Legal Battles Involving the Federal Government Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
2/03 SB 2 Appropriates $25 Million for the State Department of Justice to Pay for Legal Battles Involving the Federal Government Bill Passed - House (58 - 17)
2/03 SB 7 Prohibits Sanctuary City Policies in the State Bill Passed - House (62 - 6)
2/03 PN 11-2 Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46)
2/03 PN 11-22 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget Motion Agreed - Senate (51 - 46)
2/03 HB 1263 Amends State Criminal Records Sealing Laws Bill Passed - House (93 - 0)
1/31 HJR 1 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Enshrining Rights to Abortion Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/31 HJR 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/31 HJR 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/30 A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26)
1/30 PN 11-15 Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 38)
1/30 PN 11-3 Nomination of Douglas Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (79 - 18)
1/30 PN 11-3 Nomination of Douglas Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior Nomination Confirmed - Senate (79 - 18)
1/30 A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
1/30 H 14 Requires State Agencies to Recommend Laws for Removal and Repeal Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)
1/30 H 14 Requires State Agencies to Recommend Laws for Removal and Repeal Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 0)

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