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 22, 2020 VA HB 207 Establishes Permanent Absentee Voter List Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
April 16, 2020 UT HB 3006 Amends the Election Code to Provide for 2020 Primary Election Exclusively by Mail Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
April 15, 2020 KY HB 351 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
April 15, 2020 KY HB 351 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting Veto Override Passed - House (57 - 32)
April 14, 2020 KY SB 2 Amends Voter Identification Requirements Veto Override Passed - House (60 - 29)
April 14, 2020 KY HB 336 Amends the Time Frame That Gubernatorial Candidates Can Announce Running Mates Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
April 14, 2020 KY HB 336 Amends the Time Frame That Gubernatorial Candidates Can Announce Running Mates Veto Override Passed - House (55 - 34)
April 1, 2020 KY HB 351 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 22)
March 30, 2020 SD HB 1298 Amends the Date of the State Primary Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 5)
March 25, 2020 OH HB 197 Establishes Relief Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 0)
March 25, 2020 OH HB 197 Establishes Relief Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
March 12, 2020 UT HB 70 Repeals Single Mark Straight-Ticket Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 27)
March 12, 2020 GA SB 463 Amends Election Laws Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 19)
March 11, 2020 NY S 5073 Establishes a School Voter Registration Access Program Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 18)
March 11, 2020 FL SB 1794 Increases Signature Threshold for Initiative Petitions Bill Passed - House (73 - 45)
March 11, 2020 MD SB 390 Prohibits a Defeated Primary Candidate from Running as a Write-In Candidate for the General Election Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
March 10, 2020 SD SB 180 Repeals and Amends Certain Regulations Surrounding the Petition Circulation Process Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
March 9, 2020 FL SB 1794 Increases Signature Threshold for Initiative Petitions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
March 9, 2020 TN HB 2363 Amends Voter Registration Penalties Bill Passed - House (74 - 20)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 201 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 235 Establishes and Authorizes a Process for Automatic Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
March 7, 2020 VA HB 19 Repeals Photo Identification Requirement for Voting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
March 7, 2020 WA SB 6313 Authorizes 16 and 17 Year Olds to Opt Out of the Automatic Voter Pre-Registration Process Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
March 5, 2020 VA HB 19 Repeals Photo Identification Requirement for Voting Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45)
March 5, 2020 VA HB 235 Establishes and Authorizes a Process for Automatic Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 46)
March 5, 2020 VA HB 201 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 44)
March 5, 2020 VA HB 1255 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create an Independent Redistricting Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 45)
March 5, 2020 WA SB 6313 Authorizes 16 and 17 Year Olds to Opt Out of the Automatic Voter Pre-Registration Process Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
March 5, 2020 SD SB 128 Authorizes Campaign Contributions from Indian Tribal Entities Bill Passed - House (47 - 20)
March 3, 2020 IA SF 2348 Requires Restitution Payment from Felons for Restoration of Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
March 3, 2020 HI HB 2128 Increases Number of Voting Centers Per County Bill Passed - House (43 - 6)
March 2, 2020 VA HB 1210 Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 38)
Feb. 28, 2020 VA HB 1210 Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
Feb. 27, 2020 KY SB 62 Authorizes the Restoration of Voting Rights 5 Years After Completion of Sentence for Certain Felonies Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
Feb. 26, 2020 VA HB 1 Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 34)
Feb. 24, 2020 VA HB 1 Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
Feb. 24, 2020 VA SB 601 Establishes Election Day to Replace Lee-Jackson Day Bill Passed - House (55 - 44)
Feb. 13, 2020 AZ SB 1434 Establishes Regulations for Recall Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
Feb. 12, 2020 AK HB 83 Requires the Establishment of Regulations for Voting by Electronic Transmission Bill Passed - House (28 - 11)
Feb. 11, 2020 VA HB 177 Requires Virginia to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
Feb. 7, 2020 VA HB 1103 Authorizes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
Feb. 6, 2020 VA HB 220 Requires Prepaid Postage on All Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
Feb. 6, 2020 VA HB 108 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
Feb. 4, 2020 VA SB 65 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
Jan. 23, 2020 KY SB 2 Amends Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
Jan. 21, 2020 ME LD 517 Authorizes Placing a Candidate's "Nickname" on a Ballot Veto Override Failed - House (83 - 57)
Jan. 21, 2020 VA SB 601 Establishes Election Day to Replace Lee-Jackson Day Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
Jan. 16, 2020 DE HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
Jan. 13, 2020 NJ S 589 Amends Online Voter Registration Rules Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
Jan. 8, 2020 NH HB 506 Authorizes Employees Time to Vote Bill Passed - House (186 - 173)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/22 HB 207 Establishes Permanent Absentee Voter List Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
4/16 HB 3006 Amends the Election Code to Provide for 2020 Primary Election Exclusively by Mail Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
4/15 HB 351 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
4/15 HB 351 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting Veto Override Passed - House (57 - 32)
4/14 SB 2 Amends Voter Identification Requirements Veto Override Passed - House (60 - 29)
4/14 HB 336 Amends the Time Frame That Gubernatorial Candidates Can Announce Running Mates Veto Override Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
4/14 HB 336 Amends the Time Frame That Gubernatorial Candidates Can Announce Running Mates Veto Override Passed - House (55 - 34)
4/01 HB 351 Increases Taxes on Tobacco Products and Authorizes the Expansion of Absentee Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 22)
3/30 HB 1298 Amends the Date of the State Primary Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 5)
3/25 HB 197 Establishes Relief Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Concurrence Vote Passed - House (92 - 0)
3/25 HB 197 Establishes Relief Provisions in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 0)
3/12 HB 70 Repeals Single Mark Straight-Ticket Voting Concurrence Vote Passed - House (44 - 27)
3/12 SB 463 Amends Election Laws Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 19)
3/11 S 5073 Establishes a School Voter Registration Access Program Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 18)
3/11 SB 1794 Increases Signature Threshold for Initiative Petitions Bill Passed - House (73 - 45)
3/11 SB 390 Prohibits a Defeated Primary Candidate from Running as a Write-In Candidate for the General Election Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 6)
3/10 SB 180 Repeals and Amends Certain Regulations Surrounding the Petition Circulation Process Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 12)
3/09 SB 1794 Increases Signature Threshold for Initiative Petitions Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 17)
3/09 HB 2363 Amends Voter Registration Penalties Bill Passed - House (74 - 20)
3/07 HB 201 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17)
3/07 HB 235 Establishes and Authorizes a Process for Automatic Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18)
3/07 HB 19 Repeals Photo Identification Requirement for Voting Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 19)
3/07 SB 6313 Authorizes 16 and 17 Year Olds to Opt Out of the Automatic Voter Pre-Registration Process Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 21)
3/05 HB 19 Repeals Photo Identification Requirement for Voting Conference Report Adopted - House (54 - 45)
3/05 HB 235 Establishes and Authorizes a Process for Automatic Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - House (53 - 46)
3/05 HB 201 Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 44)
3/05 HB 1255 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Create an Independent Redistricting Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - House (54 - 45)
3/05 SB 6313 Authorizes 16 and 17 Year Olds to Opt Out of the Automatic Voter Pre-Registration Process Bill Passed - House (56 - 41)
3/05 SB 128 Authorizes Campaign Contributions from Indian Tribal Entities Bill Passed - House (47 - 20)
3/03 SF 2348 Requires Restitution Payment from Felons for Restoration of Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
3/03 HB 2128 Increases Number of Voting Centers Per County Bill Passed - House (43 - 6)
3/02 HB 1210 Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English Concurrence Vote Passed - House (60 - 38)
2/28 HB 1210 Requires Voting and Election Materials in Languages Other Than English Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13)
2/27 SB 62 Authorizes the Restoration of Voting Rights 5 Years After Completion of Sentence for Certain Felonies Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7)
2/26 HB 1 Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse Concurrence Vote Passed - House (62 - 34)
2/24 HB 1 Authorizes Absentee Voting Without Needing Excuse Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 15)
2/24 SB 601 Establishes Election Day to Replace Lee-Jackson Day Bill Passed - House (55 - 44)
2/13 SB 1434 Establishes Regulations for Recall Elections Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13)
2/12 HB 83 Requires the Establishment of Regulations for Voting by Electronic Transmission Bill Passed - House (28 - 11)
2/11 HB 177 Requires Virginia to Elect the President by National Popular Vote Bill Passed - House (51 - 46)
2/07 HB 1103 Authorizes Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
2/06 HB 220 Requires Prepaid Postage on All Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
2/06 HB 108 Establishes Election Day as a State Holiday Bill Passed - House (55 - 42)
2/04 SB 65 Repeals State Photo Identification Voter ID Laws Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 19)
1/23 SB 2 Amends Voter Identification Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 9)
1/21 LD 517 Authorizes Placing a Candidate's "Nickname" on a Ballot Veto Override Failed - House (83 - 57)
1/21 SB 601 Establishes Election Day to Replace Lee-Jackson Day Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 18)
1/16 HB 73 Amends the Delaware Constitution to Authorize the General Assembly to Pass Laws On Absentee Voting Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 5)
1/13 S 589 Amends Online Voter Registration Rules Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 10)
1/08 HB 506 Authorizes Employees Time to Vote Bill Passed - House (186 - 173)

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