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.


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Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
April 15, 2019 TN HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
April 11, 2019 DE HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
April 11, 2019 IL SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
April 10, 2019 NC SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
April 10, 2019 CO HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - House (45 - 19)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
April 10, 2019 IL SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
April 9, 2019 OR SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
April 3, 2019 ID H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
March 29, 2019 ID S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (40 - 30)
March 29, 2019 ID H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 67 Amends Definition of Resident and Residency "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
March 26, 2019 ID H 270 Authorizes Public Schools as Election Polling Sites Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
March 25, 2019 ID S 1113 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - House (52 - 15)
March 22, 2019 ID S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
March 19, 2019 DE HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - House (34 - 6)
March 18, 2019 AZ SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - House (31 - 27)
March 14, 2019 UT HB 119 Increases Ballot Initiative Voter Referendum Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 12)
March 14, 2019 DE SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
March 14, 2019 National H Con Res 24 Expressing the sense of Congress that the report of Special Counsel Mueller should be made available to the public and to Congress. Bill Passed - House (420 - 0)
March 13, 2019 UT HB 145 Amends Initiative and Referendum Provisions and Nomination Petition Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 21)
March 12, 2019 NM HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
March 12, 2019 NC SB 214 Exempts Upcoming 2019 Election from Photo ID Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
March 12, 2019 WA SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
March 9, 2019 WV SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 42)
March 9, 2019 WV SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
March 8, 2019 National HR 1 For the People Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
March 7, 2019 NH HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (198 - 163)
March 7, 2019 NH HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - House (209 - 155)
March 7, 2019 DE SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
March 5, 2019 HI SB 216 Requires Ballot Recount Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0)
March 4, 2019 SD HB 1094 Increases Transparency in the Petition Circulation Process Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
March 4, 2019 WA SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
March 1, 2019 HI HB 210 Establishes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (41 - 9)
Feb. 28, 2019 NH HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - House (218 - 123)
Feb. 23, 2019 VA HJR 615 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 15)
Feb. 21, 2019 CO SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (34 - 29)
Feb. 21, 2019 NJ S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
Feb. 19, 2019 VA SB 1026 Authorizes No-Excuse Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (89 - 10)
Feb. 14, 2019 AZ SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 7, 2019 MO HB 445 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - House (103 - 47)
Feb. 1, 2019 NM HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
Jan. 31, 2019 MT HB 245 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
Jan. 30, 2019 WA SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
Jan. 29, 2019 CO SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
Jan. 29, 2019 SD HB 1027 Amends Election Day Voting Laws Related to Voting Centers and Precinct Workers Bill Passed - House (50 - 20)
Jan. 15, 2019 NY A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 12)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - House (110 - 33)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 6)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - House (107 - 39)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Failed - House (133 - 13)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - House (114 - 32)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/15 HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - House (71 - 26)
4/11 HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
4/11 SB 145 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 19)
4/10 SB 250 Amends Voting Rolls to Correlate with Jury Selection Excusals Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 19)
4/10 HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - House (45 - 19)
4/10 SB 2090 Expands Access to Voting in Jails Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 17)
4/10 SB 1970 Authorizes Student Absences for Voting Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 10)
4/09 SB 870 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 12)
4/03 H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
3/29 S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (40 - 30)
3/29 H 296 Amends Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
3/28 SB 67 Amends Definition of Resident and Residency "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 10)
3/28 SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
3/28 SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
3/26 H 270 Authorizes Public Schools as Election Polling Sites Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
3/25 S 1113 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - House (52 - 15)
3/22 S 1159 Increases Threshold for Ballot Initiative Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
3/19 HB 38 Amends Early Voting Regulations Bill Passed - House (34 - 6)
3/18 SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - House (31 - 27)
3/14 HB 119 Increases Ballot Initiative Voter Referendum Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (59 - 12)
3/14 SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (24 - 17)
3/14 H Con Res 24 Expressing the sense of Congress that the report of Special Counsel Mueller should be made available to the public and to Congress. Bill Passed - House (420 - 0)
3/13 HB 145 Amends Initiative and Referendum Provisions and Nomination Petition Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 21)
3/12 HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 16)
3/12 SB 214 Exempts Upcoming 2019 Election from Photo ID Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
3/12 SB 5078 Requires Presidential and VP Candidates Release 5 Years of Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21)
3/09 SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - House (57 - 42)
3/09 SB 622 Increases Election and Campaign Contribution Limits Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 15)
3/08 HR 1 For the People Act of 2019 Bill Passed - House (234 - 193)
3/07 HB 611 Increases Access to Absentee Voting "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (198 - 163)
3/07 HB 105 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - House (209 - 155)
3/07 SB 22 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
3/05 SB 216 Requires Ballot Recount Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 0)
3/04 HB 1094 Increases Transparency in the Petition Circulation Process Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
3/04 SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - House (54 - 42)
3/01 HB 210 Establishes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (41 - 9)
2/28 HB 706 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Bill Passed - House (218 - 123)
2/23 HJR 615 Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission Conference Report Adopted - House (83 - 15)
2/21 SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (34 - 29)
2/21 S 119 Requires Certain Candidates To Disclose Income Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
2/19 SB 1026 Authorizes No-Excuse Absentee Voting Bill Passed - House (89 - 10)
2/14 SB 1072 Requires Identification for Early Voting Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/07 HB 445 Prohibits Lobbyist Gifts to Government Officials Bill Passed - House (103 - 47)
2/01 HB 55 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (41 - 27)
1/31 HB 245 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Bill Passed - House (60 - 39)
1/30 SB 5273 Amends Presidential Primary Dates Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
1/29 SB 19-042 Authorizes Interstate Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
1/29 HB 1027 Amends Election Day Voting Laws Related to Voting Centers and Precinct Workers Bill Passed - House (50 - 20)
1/15 A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 14)
1/14 A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 12)
1/14 S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - House (110 - 33)
1/14 A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 6)
1/14 A 774 Authorizes Voter Pre-Registration Bill Passed - House (107 - 39)
1/14 A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Failed - House (133 - 13)
1/14 A 775 Requires the Transference of Registration and Enrollment of Voters after Moving Bill Passed - House (114 - 32)
1/14 S 1102 Establishes Early Voting Period Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 13)

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