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
March 23, 2026 NJ A 4070 Prohibits Government Entities from Collecting and Sharing Certain Personal Information Bill Passed - House (52 - 21)
March 23, 2026 NJ A 1715 Expands Voting Rights Measures and Protections Bill Passed - House (54 - 20)
March 23, 2026 NJ A 4071 Prohibits State and Local Law Enforcement from Assisting with Federal Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (50 - 21)
March 22, 2026 National PN 858 Nomination of Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, to be Secretary of Homeland Security, vice Kristi Noem Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 37)
March 20, 2026 MD SB 933 Repeals and Amends the Proposed Constitutional Amendment Related to Temporary Appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0)
March 20, 2026 MD SB 933 Repeals and Amends the Proposed Constitutional Amendment Related to Temporary Appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0)
March 19, 2026 KS HB 2593 Limits Local Governments' Authority to Contract Legal Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
March 19, 2026 AL HB 541 Requires Political Party Registration In Order to Vote in Primary Elections Bill Passed - House (63 - 35)
March 18, 2026 National H J Res 139 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government Amendment Rejected - House (211 - 207)
March 17, 2026 KY HB 1 Establishes the State's Election to Participate in the Federal Education Scholarship Tax Credit Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
March 16, 2026 KY HB 1 Establishes the State's Election to Participate in the Federal Education Scholarship Tax Credit Veto Override Passed - House (77 - 14)
March 14, 2026 VA HB 1441 Prohibits State and Local Law Enforcement from Entering into Federal Immigration Enforcement Contracts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
March 14, 2026 VA HB 1441 Prohibits State and Local Law Enforcement from Entering into Federal Immigration Enforcement Contracts Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 34)
March 12, 2026 FL HB 991 Requires Identification Featuring Proof of Citizenship for Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 28)
March 12, 2026 FL HB 991 Requires Identification Featuring Proof of Citizenship for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
March 12, 2026 VT H 849 Authorizes Citizens to Sue Federal Officials for Constitutional Rights Violations Bill Passed - House (97 - 39)
March 12, 2026 AL SB 360 Expands the Alabama Public Service Commission Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
March 11, 2026 MO HB 3146 Amends the Process for Creating Official Summaries on Ballot Measures Bill Passed - House (90 - 55)
March 10, 2026 National PN 711 Nomination of Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd to be General in the United States Army Nomination Confirmed - Senate (71 - 29)
March 10, 2026 OK HB 3722 Requires Voters to Indicate a Party or Independent for Their Registration to be Valid Bill Passed - House (75 - 18)
March 10, 2026 IA HF 2694 Restricts the Powers of the Governor During Emergency Situations Bill Passed - House (67 - 23)
March 9, 2026 IA SF 579 Prohibits Local Agencies From Enacting Civil Rights Protections That are More Strict Than Those Required by the State Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
March 9, 2026 National PN 711 Nomination of Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd to be General in the United States Army Cloture Invoked - Senate (68 - 28)
March 7, 2026 UT HB 212 Authorizes the Division of Large Counties Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 7, 2026 UT HB 212 Authorizes the Division of Large Counties Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 12)
March 6, 2026 UT HB 242 Limits the Ability for Individuals to Remove Their Name From a Ballot Initiative Petition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 12)
March 6, 2026 UT HB 242 Limits the Ability for Individuals to Remove Their Name From a Ballot Initiative Petition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
March 6, 2026 OR HB 4177 Limits Government Officials' Communication Outside of Public Meetings Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
March 6, 2026 GA SR 838 Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote Resolution Failed - Senate (32 - 23)
March 6, 2026 GA SR 838 Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote Resolution Failed - Senate (32 - 23)
March 6, 2026 GA SR 875 Extends the Jurisdiction of Grand Juries to Include Election and Voting-Related Crimes Resolution Failed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 6, 2026 GA SR 875 Extends the Jurisdiction of Grand Juries to Include Election and Voting-Related Crimes Resolution Failed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 6, 2026 GA SB 568 Prohibits the Use of QR Codes on Election Ballots Bill Failed - Senate (27 - 21)
March 6, 2026 CO HB 26-1084 Requires Ballot Measures that Would Reduce Tax Revenue to Disclose Resulting Budget Cuts Bill Passed - House (40 - 22)
March 5, 2026 IA SF 579 Prohibits Local Agencies From Enacting Civil Rights Protections That are More Strict Than Those Required by the State Bill Passed - House (60 - 26)
March 5, 2026 ID H 561 Restricts Flags Authorized to be Flown on Government Property Bill Passed - House (58 - 11)
March 5, 2026 National H Con Res 38 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran Bill Failed - House (212 - 219)
March 5, 2026 National H Con Res 38 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran Bill Failed - House (212 - 219)
March 5, 2026 MO HB 2125 Requires the Secretary of State and the Director of the Department of Revenue to Share Citizenship Data Bill Passed - House (101 - 46)
March 4, 2026 OH SB 63 Prohibits Ranked Choice Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
March 4, 2026 OH SB 63 Prohibits Ranked Choice Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
March 4, 2026 MS SB 2588 Requires Citizenship Verification for Voters via Federal Database Bill Passed - House (80 - 41)
March 4, 2026 SD SB 175 Requires Voters to Provide Citizenship Status When Registering to Vote Bill Passed - House (64 - 3)
March 4, 2026 National H Res 1100 Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records of the Committee's review of violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment) and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives Motion Agreed - House (357 - 65)
March 4, 2026 National S J Res 104 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
March 4, 2026 OR HB 4177 Limits Government Officials' Communication Outside of Public Meetings Bill Passed - House (47 - 4)
March 4, 2026 FL SB 1134 Prohibits Counties and Municipalities from Funding or Supporting Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
March 3, 2026 FL SB 290 Prohibits Counties From Enacting Any Restriction on the Use of Gasoline-Powered Farm Equipment Bill Passed - House (94 - 10)
March 3, 2026 CO HB 26-1113 Amends Various Provisions of Colorado Election Code Bill Passed - House (41 - 22)
March 3, 2026 ID S 1322 Requires Voters' Information to be Verified Prior to Voting When Signing an Affidavit in Lieu of Providing Identification Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/23 A 4070 Prohibits Government Entities from Collecting and Sharing Certain Personal Information Bill Passed - House (52 - 21)
3/23 A 1715 Expands Voting Rights Measures and Protections Bill Passed - House (54 - 20)
3/23 A 4071 Prohibits State and Local Law Enforcement from Assisting with Federal Immigration Enforcement Bill Passed - House (50 - 21)
3/22 PN 858 Nomination of Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, to be Secretary of Homeland Security, vice Kristi Noem Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 37)
3/20 SB 933 Repeals and Amends the Proposed Constitutional Amendment Related to Temporary Appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0)
3/20 SB 933 Repeals and Amends the Proposed Constitutional Amendment Related to Temporary Appointments to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 0)
3/19 HB 2593 Limits Local Governments' Authority to Contract Legal Services Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
3/19 HB 541 Requires Political Party Registration In Order to Vote in Primary Elections Bill Passed - House (63 - 35)
3/18 H J Res 139 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a balanced budget for the Federal Government Amendment Rejected - House (211 - 207)
3/17 HB 1 Establishes the State's Election to Participate in the Federal Education Scholarship Tax Credit Veto Override Passed - Senate (31 - 5)
3/16 HB 1 Establishes the State's Election to Participate in the Federal Education Scholarship Tax Credit Veto Override Passed - House (77 - 14)
3/14 HB 1441 Prohibits State and Local Law Enforcement from Entering into Federal Immigration Enforcement Contracts Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
3/14 HB 1441 Prohibits State and Local Law Enforcement from Entering into Federal Immigration Enforcement Contracts Conference Report Adopted - House (62 - 34)
3/12 HB 991 Requires Identification Featuring Proof of Citizenship for Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 28)
3/12 HB 991 Requires Identification Featuring Proof of Citizenship for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 12)
3/12 H 849 Authorizes Citizens to Sue Federal Officials for Constitutional Rights Violations Bill Passed - House (97 - 39)
3/12 SB 360 Expands the Alabama Public Service Commission Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 0)
3/11 HB 3146 Amends the Process for Creating Official Summaries on Ballot Measures Bill Passed - House (90 - 55)
3/10 PN 711 Nomination of Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd to be General in the United States Army Nomination Confirmed - Senate (71 - 29)
3/10 HB 3722 Requires Voters to Indicate a Party or Independent for Their Registration to be Valid Bill Passed - House (75 - 18)
3/10 HF 2694 Restricts the Powers of the Governor During Emergency Situations Bill Passed - House (67 - 23)
3/09 SF 579 Prohibits Local Agencies From Enacting Civil Rights Protections That are More Strict Than Those Required by the State Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 16)
3/09 PN 711 Nomination of Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd to be General in the United States Army Cloture Invoked - Senate (68 - 28)
3/07 HB 212 Authorizes the Division of Large Counties Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/07 HB 212 Authorizes the Division of Large Counties Bill Failed - Senate (17 - 12)
3/06 HB 242 Limits the Ability for Individuals to Remove Their Name From a Ballot Initiative Petition Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 12)
3/06 HB 242 Limits the Ability for Individuals to Remove Their Name From a Ballot Initiative Petition Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 7)
3/06 HB 4177 Limits Government Officials' Communication Outside of Public Meetings Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 3)
3/06 SR 838 Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote Resolution Failed - Senate (32 - 23)
3/06 SR 838 Requires Proof of Citizenship to Vote Resolution Failed - Senate (32 - 23)
3/06 SR 875 Extends the Jurisdiction of Grand Juries to Include Election and Voting-Related Crimes Resolution Failed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/06 SR 875 Extends the Jurisdiction of Grand Juries to Include Election and Voting-Related Crimes Resolution Failed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/06 SB 568 Prohibits the Use of QR Codes on Election Ballots Bill Failed - Senate (27 - 21)
3/06 HB 26-1084 Requires Ballot Measures that Would Reduce Tax Revenue to Disclose Resulting Budget Cuts Bill Passed - House (40 - 22)
3/05 SF 579 Prohibits Local Agencies From Enacting Civil Rights Protections That are More Strict Than Those Required by the State Bill Passed - House (60 - 26)
3/05 H 561 Restricts Flags Authorized to be Flown on Government Property Bill Passed - House (58 - 11)
3/05 H Con Res 38 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran Bill Failed - House (212 - 219)
3/05 H Con Res 38 Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran Bill Failed - House (212 - 219)
3/05 HB 2125 Requires the Secretary of State and the Director of the Department of Revenue to Share Citizenship Data Bill Passed - House (101 - 46)
3/04 SB 63 Prohibits Ranked Choice Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
3/04 SB 63 Prohibits Ranked Choice Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (24 - 7)
3/04 SB 2588 Requires Citizenship Verification for Voters via Federal Database Bill Passed - House (80 - 41)
3/04 SB 175 Requires Voters to Provide Citizenship Status When Registering to Vote Bill Passed - House (64 - 3)
3/04 H Res 1100 Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records of the Committee's review of violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment) and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives Motion Agreed - House (357 - 65)
3/04 S J Res 104 A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress Motion Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
3/04 HB 4177 Limits Government Officials' Communication Outside of Public Meetings Bill Passed - House (47 - 4)
3/04 SB 1134 Prohibits Counties and Municipalities from Funding or Supporting Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 11)
3/03 SB 290 Prohibits Counties From Enacting Any Restriction on the Use of Gasoline-Powered Farm Equipment Bill Passed - House (94 - 10)
3/03 HB 26-1113 Amends Various Provisions of Colorado Election Code Bill Passed - House (41 - 22)
3/03 S 1322 Requires Voters' Information to be Verified Prior to Voting When Signing an Affidavit in Lieu of Providing Identification Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 0)

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