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
Oct. 31, 2019 National H Res 660 Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (232 - 196)
Oct. 30, 2019 NC SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 51)
Oct. 29, 2019 NC SB 522 Amends the Innovative School District (ISD) Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 16)
Oct. 29, 2019 NC SB 522 Amends the Innovative School District (ISD) Program Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 48)
Oct. 29, 2019 PA SB 421 Establishes Mail-In Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
Oct. 29, 2019 PA SB 421 Establishes Mail-In Voting Bill Passed - House (138 - 61)
Oct. 29, 2019 IL SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - House (74 - 40)
Oct. 24, 2019 OH HB 76 Establishes the Ballot Uniformity and Transparency Act for Tax Levies Bill Passed - House (54 - 39)
Oct. 23, 2019 National HR 4617 Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 181)
Oct. 22, 2019 National PN 110 Nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be the Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations (50 - 44)
Oct. 22, 2019 National PN 110 Nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be the Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 43)
Sept. 27, 2019 National SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - House (236 - 174)
Sept. 27, 2019 National SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - House (236 - 174)
Sept. 26, 2019 National PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor (53 - 44)
Sept. 26, 2019 National HR 3525 US Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 184)
Sept. 26, 2019 National SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 41)
Sept. 26, 2019 National SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 41)
Sept. 25, 2019 National PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 42)
Sept. 25, 2019 National HR 2203 Homeland Security Improvement Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 194)
Sept. 25, 2019 National H Res 576 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the whistleblower complaint of August 12, 2019, made to the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Bill Passed - House (421 - 0)
Sept. 25, 2019 National H Res 576 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the whistleblower complaint of August 12, 2019, made to the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Bill Passed - House (421 - 0)
Sept. 18, 2019 NH HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Veto Override Failed - House (227 - 145)
Sept. 13, 2019 CA AB 681 Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 13)
Sept. 13, 2019 CA SB 1 Rescinds Federal Freeze of Environmental Deregulations Bill Passed - House (48 - 22)
Sept. 11, 2019 CA AB 545 Authorizes the Review of Activities of the Bureau of Cannabis Control Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
Sept. 10, 2019 CA AB 681 Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
Sept. 10, 2019 CA SB 5 Establishes the Affordable Housing and Community Development Investment Program Bill Passed - House (55 - 19)
Aug. 27, 2019 NJ S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - House (45 - 14)
Aug. 26, 2019 NJ S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
Aug. 23, 2019 TN HR 7006 Alleges David Byrd Should be Expelled from the House of Representatives Resolution Sent To Committee - House (71 - 26)
Aug. 12, 2019 CA AJR 5 Urges the Federal Government to Pass Universal Firearm Safety Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Aug. 7, 2019 NC SB 681 Appropriates Funding to Rural Hospitals Bill Passed - House (81 - 31)
July 23, 2019 National PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense (90 - 8)
July 22, 2019 National PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (85 - 6)
July 17, 2019 National H Res 497 Recommending that The House of Representatives Find William P. Barr, Attorney General of The United States, and Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary of Commerce, in Contempt of Congress for Refusal to Comply with Subpoenas Duly Issued by The Committee on Oversight and Reform Bill Passed - House (230 - 198)
July 8, 2019 CA SB 27 Requires Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
July 1, 2019 DE HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 8)
July 1, 2019 DE HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 8)
July 1, 2019 DE HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 8)
June 30, 2019 OR HB 2983 Requires Disclosure of Organizations Giving Certain Monetary Donations to Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
June 30, 2019 OR SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - House (38 - 17)
June 30, 2019 OR SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - House (43 - 11)
June 29, 2019 OR SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
June 29, 2019 OR SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
June 27, 2019 NH HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - House (203 - 142)
June 27, 2019 NH HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - House (203 - 142)
June 27, 2019 NH HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
June 27, 2019 NH HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
June 27, 2019 PA SB 48 Amends State Election Laws Regarding Straight Party Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
June 27, 2019 PA SB 48 Amends State Election Laws Regarding Straight Party Voting Bill Passed - House (111 - 88)
Date No. Title Outcome
10/31 H Res 660 Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes Bill Passed - House (232 - 196)
10/30 SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Conference Report Adopted - House (59 - 51)
10/29 SB 522 Amends the Innovative School District (ISD) Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (33 - 16)
10/29 SB 522 Amends the Innovative School District (ISD) Program Conference Report Adopted - House (64 - 48)
10/29 SB 421 Establishes Mail-In Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (35 - 14)
10/29 SB 421 Establishes Mail-In Voting Bill Passed - House (138 - 61)
10/29 SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - House (74 - 40)
10/24 HB 76 Establishes the Ballot Uniformity and Transparency Act for Tax Levies Bill Passed - House (54 - 39)
10/23 HR 4617 Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act Bill Passed - House (227 - 181)
10/22 PN 110 Nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be the Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations (50 - 44)
10/22 PN 110 Nomination of Andrew Bremberg to be the Representative of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations Cloture Invoked - Senate (50 - 43)
9/27 SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - House (236 - 174)
9/27 SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - House (236 - 174)
9/26 PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor (53 - 44)
9/26 HR 3525 US Border Patrol Medical Screening Standards Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 184)
9/26 SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 41)
9/26 SJ Res 54 Rescinds a National Emergency Declared by the President on February 15, 2019 Bill Passed - Senate (54 - 41)
9/25 PN 1099 Nomination of Eugene Scalia as the Secretary of Labor Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 42)
9/25 HR 2203 Homeland Security Improvement Act Bill Passed - House (230 - 194)
9/25 H Res 576 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the whistleblower complaint of August 12, 2019, made to the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Bill Passed - House (421 - 0)
9/25 H Res 576 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the whistleblower complaint of August 12, 2019, made to the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Bill Passed - House (421 - 0)
9/18 HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Veto Override Failed - House (227 - 145)
9/13 AB 681 Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (65 - 13)
9/13 SB 1 Rescinds Federal Freeze of Environmental Deregulations Bill Passed - House (48 - 22)
9/11 AB 545 Authorizes the Review of Activities of the Bureau of Cannabis Control Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 0)
9/10 AB 681 Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11)
9/10 SB 5 Establishes the Affordable Housing and Community Development Investment Program Bill Passed - House (55 - 19)
8/27 S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - House (45 - 14)
8/26 S 4069 Amends Absentee Ballot Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10)
8/23 HR 7006 Alleges David Byrd Should be Expelled from the House of Representatives Resolution Sent To Committee - House (71 - 26)
8/12 AJR 5 Urges the Federal Government to Pass Universal Firearm Safety Regulation Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
8/07 SB 681 Appropriates Funding to Rural Hospitals Bill Passed - House (81 - 31)
7/23 PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense (90 - 8)
7/22 PN 934 Nomination of Mark Esper as the Secretary of Defense Cloture Invoked - Senate (85 - 6)
7/17 H Res 497 Recommending that The House of Representatives Find William P. Barr, Attorney General of The United States, and Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary of Commerce, in Contempt of Congress for Refusal to Comply with Subpoenas Duly Issued by The Committee on Oversight and Reform Bill Passed - House (230 - 198)
7/08 SB 27 Requires Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - House (57 - 17)
7/01 HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 8)
7/01 HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 8)
7/01 HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Failed - Senate (11 - 8)
6/30 HB 2983 Requires Disclosure of Organizations Giving Certain Monetary Donations to Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
6/30 SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - House (38 - 17)
6/30 SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - House (43 - 11)
6/29 SJR 18 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment Referral for Allowing Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Limits Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 5)
6/29 SB 861 Requires State to Pay for Ballot Return Envelopes Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 9)
6/27 HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - House (203 - 142)
6/27 HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - House (203 - 142)
6/27 HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
6/27 HB 315 Repeals Participation in Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
6/27 SB 48 Amends State Election Laws Regarding Straight Party Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 19)
6/27 SB 48 Amends State Election Laws Regarding Straight Party Voting Bill Passed - House (111 - 88)

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