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 3, 2019 FL SB 7066 Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 42)
May 3, 2019 CO HB 19-1318 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 24)
May 3, 2019 FL HB 5 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 43)
May 3, 2019 FL HB 5 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 43)
May 2, 2019 FL SB 7066 Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
May 2, 2019 CO HB 19-1318 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
May 2, 2019 CO SB 19-235 Expands Automatic Voter Registration System Bill Passed - House (40 - 23)
May 2, 2019 ME LD 431 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (74 - 69)
May 2, 2019 CA SB 27 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
May 2, 2019 MO SB 391 Prohibits Local Officials from Regulating Industrial Farms Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
May 1, 2019 OH HB 154 Repeals Use of Academic Distress Commissions Bill Passed - House (83 - 12)
May 1, 2019 OR HB 3427 Increases Business Taxes to Enhance School Funding Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
May 1, 2019 OH HB 154 Repeals Use of Academic Distress Commissions Bill Passed - House (83 - 12)
April 30, 2019 CO HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 27)
April 30, 2019 MN HF 2414 Appropriates Funds to Various State Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
April 30, 2019 FL HB 771 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Prohibiting Plastic Straws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
April 29, 2019 FL HB 19 Authorizes the Importation of Prescription Drugs from Canada Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 20)
April 29, 2019 FL HB 19 Authorizes the Importation of Prescription Drugs from Canada Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
April 29, 2019 CO HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
April 29, 2019 FL HB 741 Prohibits "Anti-Semitic Speech" at Public Schools, Colleges, and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
April 29, 2019 MO HJR 48 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Amend Campaign Finance and State Election Laws Bill Passed - House (104 - 49)
April 29, 2019 MO HJR 48 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Amend Campaign Finance and State Election Laws Bill Passed - House (104 - 49)
April 27, 2019 IA SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
April 27, 2019 IA SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
April 27, 2019 IA SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
April 27, 2019 IA SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
April 27, 2019 CO HB 19-1239 Appropriates $12 Million for Census Outreach Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
April 26, 2019 ND SB 2148 Establishes the Creation of an Ethics Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
April 26, 2019 CO HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
April 26, 2019 FL HB 1159 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Requiring Approval for Tree Removal Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
April 25, 2019 TN HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
April 25, 2019 FL HB 771 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Prohibiting Plastic Straws Bill Passed - House (87 - 23)
April 25, 2019 AL SB 220 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create a State Lottery Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
April 25, 2019 FL HB 1159 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Requiring Approval for Tree Removal Bill Passed - House (77 - 36)
April 24, 2019 IA SF 634 Amends Process for Approving Local Government Budgets and Property Taxation Bill Passed - House (53 - 47)
April 24, 2019 FL HB 7089 Requires Felons to Pay Court Fees Prior to Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
April 24, 2019 CO SB 19-235 Expands Automatic Voter Registration System Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
April 24, 2019 IA SF 634 Amends Process for Approving Local Government Budgets and Property Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
April 24, 2019 FL HB 527 Prohibits Cities from Enacting "Sanctuary" Policies Bill Passed - House (69 - 47)
April 23, 2019 IA SF 615 Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
April 23, 2019 IA SF 615 Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
April 23, 2019 NV SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
April 23, 2019 NV SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
April 22, 2019 IA HF 764 Requires the Legislature to Publish Proposed Constitutional Amendments Bill Passed - House (54 - 44)
April 22, 2019 IA HF 764 Requires the Legislature to Publish Proposed Constitutional Amendments Bill Passed - House (54 - 44)
April 18, 2019 TN HB 658 Repeals City Police Oversight Boards Subpoena Power Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 6)
April 17, 2019 TN HB 658 Repeals City Police Oversight Boards Subpoena Power Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 16)
April 17, 2019 IA HF 692 Requires Bar Codes on Absentee Ballots to Determine Time of Mailing Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
April 17, 2019 ND HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
April 16, 2019 MT HB 21 Establishes a Missing Persons Specialist in the Department of Justice Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)
Date No. Title Outcome
5/03 SB 7066 Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 42)
5/03 HB 19-1318 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (40 - 24)
5/03 HB 5 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 43)
5/03 HB 5 Increases Ballot Initiative Signature Collection Requirements Concurrence Vote Passed - House (67 - 43)
5/02 SB 7066 Requires Felons Pay Outstanding Court Fees Prior to Voting Rights Restoration Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 17)
5/02 HB 19-1318 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 15)
5/02 SB 19-235 Expands Automatic Voter Registration System Bill Passed - House (40 - 23)
5/02 LD 431 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday "Ought to Pass as Amended" Report Adopted - House (74 - 69)
5/02 SB 27 Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
5/02 SB 391 Prohibits Local Officials from Regulating Industrial Farms Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11)
5/01 HB 154 Repeals Use of Academic Distress Commissions Bill Passed - House (83 - 12)
5/01 HB 3427 Increases Business Taxes to Enhance School Funding Bill Passed - House (37 - 21)
5/01 HB 154 Repeals Use of Academic Distress Commissions Bill Passed - House (83 - 12)
4/30 HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Concurrence Vote Passed - House (38 - 27)
4/30 HF 2414 Appropriates Funds to Various State Agencies Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 28)
4/30 HB 771 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Prohibiting Plastic Straws Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15)
4/29 HB 19 Authorizes the Importation of Prescription Drugs from Canada Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 20)
4/29 HB 19 Authorizes the Importation of Prescription Drugs from Canada Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13)
4/29 HB 19-1278 Authorizes Primary Voting for 17 Year Olds and Increases Rural Voter Services Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 17)
4/29 HB 741 Prohibits "Anti-Semitic Speech" at Public Schools, Colleges, and Universities Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
4/29 HJR 48 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Amend Campaign Finance and State Election Laws Bill Passed - House (104 - 49)
4/29 HJR 48 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Amend Campaign Finance and State Election Laws Bill Passed - House (104 - 49)
4/27 SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
4/27 SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 16)
4/27 SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
4/27 SF 638 Amends Judicial Commission Selection Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
4/27 HB 19-1239 Appropriates $12 Million for Census Outreach Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
4/26 SB 2148 Establishes the Creation of an Ethics Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
4/26 HB 19-1266 Authorizes Voting Rights to Paroled Felons Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
4/26 HB 1159 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Requiring Approval for Tree Removal Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
4/25 HB 1079 Increases Penalties for Voter Registration Errors Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
4/25 HB 771 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Prohibiting Plastic Straws Bill Passed - House (87 - 23)
4/25 SB 220 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create a State Lottery Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
4/25 HB 1159 Prohibits Municipal Governments from Requiring Approval for Tree Removal Bill Passed - House (77 - 36)
4/24 SF 634 Amends Process for Approving Local Government Budgets and Property Taxation Bill Passed - House (53 - 47)
4/24 HB 7089 Requires Felons to Pay Court Fees Prior to Voter Registration Bill Passed - House (71 - 45)
4/24 SB 19-235 Expands Automatic Voter Registration System Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 16)
4/24 SF 634 Amends Process for Approving Local Government Budgets and Property Taxation Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 17)
4/24 HB 527 Prohibits Cities from Enacting "Sanctuary" Policies Bill Passed - House (69 - 47)
4/23 SF 615 Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
4/23 SF 615 Prohibits the Attorney General From Joining Out-Of-State Lawsuits Bill Passed - House (54 - 45)
4/23 SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
4/23 SB 450 Amends Provisions Relating to Recall Elections Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 5)
4/22 HF 764 Requires the Legislature to Publish Proposed Constitutional Amendments Bill Passed - House (54 - 44)
4/22 HF 764 Requires the Legislature to Publish Proposed Constitutional Amendments Bill Passed - House (54 - 44)
4/18 HB 658 Repeals City Police Oversight Boards Subpoena Power Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 6)
4/17 HB 658 Repeals City Police Oversight Boards Subpoena Power Conference Report Adopted - House (80 - 16)
4/17 HF 692 Requires Bar Codes on Absentee Ballots to Determine Time of Mailing Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
4/17 HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
4/16 HB 21 Establishes a Missing Persons Specialist in the Department of Justice Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 13)

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