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
June 22, 2021 WI SB 204 Amends Absentee Ballot Laws to Increase Paperwork from One Form to 2 Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
June 22, 2021 PA HB 1300 Establishes State Legislative Authority Over Elections Bill Passed - House (110 - 91)
June 17, 2021 CT SB 1202 Extends Convicted Felons' Voting Rights if They are Committed to Confinement Bill Passed - House (89 - 50)
June 17, 2021 MI HB 4528 Requires Election Challengers to Undergo Training Bill Passed - House (105 - 4)
June 16, 2021 RI H 6004 Authorizes Persons with Disabilities and Persons Active in the Military to Receive and Return Mail Ballots Electronically Bill Passed - House (48 - 17)
June 16, 2021 WI AB 369 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
June 10, 2021 LA SB 221 Establishes a Voting System Commission to Examine Voting Standards and Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 34)
June 10, 2021 NY S 4306B Expands Early Voting Access Bill Passed - House (108 - 41)
June 10, 2021 NY S 7191 Authorizes a Write-in Ballot Cast in a Party Primary to Petition for a Candidate Not Enrolled in Such Party to be Void and Not Counted Bill Passed - House (101 - 48)
June 10, 2021 MA H 3871 Appropriates Funds for a Supplemental Budget Bill Passed - House (131 - 29)
June 10, 2021 DE HB 90 Amends Campaign Finance Laws to Authorize Spending Related to Child Care Costs Bill Passed - House (28 - 13)
June 9, 2021 NY S 7150 Amends State Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (103 - 45)
June 9, 2021 ME LD 1363 Amends the Statutory Language Regarding Elections Determined by Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (78 - 53)
June 9, 2021 ME LD 1126 Requires the Secretary of State Establish an Online Voter Registration Application Bill Passed - House (81 - 61)
June 8, 2021 CO HB 21-1071 Authorizes Ranked Choice Voting to be Used for Municipal Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 15)
June 8, 2021 LA HB 704 Amends Rules Related to Election Administration Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 31)
June 8, 2021 ME LD 1575 Authorizes Student ID's to be Used as Voter Identification Cards Bill Passed - House (79 - 58)
June 7, 2021 LA SB 224 Increases Requirements for Absentee Voting by Mail Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
June 7, 2021 LA SB 220 Establishes Rules for Legislative Auditor Examinations, Audits, and Reviews of Elections and Retention of Election Records Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
June 3, 2021 CO SB 21-250 Requires the Secretary of State to Allow Voters to Register to Vote Using the Last 4 Digits of their Social Security Number Bill Passed - House (40 - 23)
May 31, 2021 NV SB 292 Amends the Deadline to Challenge the Qualification of a Minor Political Party Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
May 30, 2021 TX HB 1987 Amends Eligibility Requirements for Candidates Seeking Elective Office of Federal, State, or County Government Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 18)
May 28, 2021 TX HB 2283 Limits How Funding is Used to Administer Elections in the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (96 - 50)
May 28, 2021 NV AB 432 Amends the Automatic Voter Registration Initiative Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
May 27, 2021 OK SB 959 Establishes Procedures for Filling U.S. Senate Vacancies Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 24)
May 26, 2021 AZ SB 1713 Repeals Early Ballot Laws Bill Failed - House (29 - 31)
May 26, 2021 NV AB 321 Specifies Changes Made to the State's Elections During the Pandemic are Permanent Bill Passed - House (25 - 16)
May 26, 2021 NV AB 126 Amends the Date of the 2024 State Presidential Caucus Bill Passed - House (30 - 11)
May 25, 2021 TX SB 1387 Requires Voting System Equipment be Manufactured, Stores, and Held in the United States Bill Passed - House (108 - 35)
May 25, 2021 TX SB 1111 Requires Voters Register Their Physical Address Instead of a P.O. Box When Registering to Vote Bill Passed - House (81 - 65)
May 24, 2021 TX SB 1113 Authorizes the Secretary of State's Office to Withhold Funding from County Election Officials Bill Passed - House (97 - 46)
May 24, 2021 OR HB 3291 Requires Ballots Returned by Mail to be Postmarked by the Date of the Election Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
May 18, 2021 TX HB 574 Establishes 2 New Classes of Election Fraud Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 48)
May 18, 2021 LA HB 138 Requires Conducting a Supplemental Canvass of Registered Voters Bill Passed - House (64 - 30)
May 14, 2021 MO SB 86 Prohibits Any Public Funds from Being Used by School Districts for Supporting or Opposing Ballot Measures or Candidates Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 35)
May 14, 2021 TX HB 3920 Authorizes Pregnant Women to Vote by Mail if Their Due Date is 3 Weeks Before or After the Election Bill Passed - House (99 - 44)
May 11, 2021 NY A 6046 Authorizes the Board of Elections to Accept an Electronic Application for an Absentee Ballot when Submitted by a Voter Bill Passed - House (104 - 43)
May 11, 2021 NY A 6047 Amends the Deadlines for the Mailing and Receipt of Absentee Ballots from the Day Before the Election to Election Day Bill Passed - House (104 - 43)
May 11, 2021 WI AB 173 Prohibits Local Government Officials from Using Private Funds to Administer Elections Bill Passed - House (60 - 36)
May 7, 2021 TX SB 7 Prohibits Election Officials from Mailing Unsolicited Ballots Bill Passed - House (78 - 64)
May 7, 2021 TX HB 2149 Establishes Mobile or "Rolling" Temporary Polling Places Bill Passed - House (99 - 41)
May 6, 2021 CT HJ 59 Authorizes Early Voting in Specific Cases Bill Passed - House (115 - 26)
May 5, 2021 CO SB 21-188 Authorizes a Voter with a Disability to Print the Ballot or Return the Ballot by Electronic Transmission Bill Passed - House (41 - 22)
May 5, 2021 ID S 1064 Specifies Voters Must be Issued a New Ballot of the Same Type they Originally Requested Bill Passed - House (48 - 11)
May 5, 2021 PA HR 91 Establishes a Task Force to Review the Failure to Advertise a Proposed Constitutional Amendment Resolution Passed - House (111 - 90)
May 4, 2021 OK HB 2564 Amends the Election Recount Process to Require Recounts on Statewide Issues or Question Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 18)
May 4, 2021 LA HB 20 Prohibits the Use of Private Funds to Pay Election-Related Expenses Bill Passed - House (69 - 35)
May 4, 2021 LA HB 378 Establishes a Felon Can Register to Vote if the Person has Not Been Incarcerated Within the Last 5 Years Bill Passed - House (83 - 17)
April 29, 2021 FL SB 7072 Prohibits Social Media Companies from "Deplatforming" Political Candidates Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 38)
April 29, 2021 FL SB 90 Establishes Restrictions on Vote-By-Mail and Drop Boxes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 40)
Date No. Title Outcome
6/22 SB 204 Amends Absentee Ballot Laws to Increase Paperwork from One Form to 2 Bill Passed - House (60 - 38)
6/22 HB 1300 Establishes State Legislative Authority Over Elections Bill Passed - House (110 - 91)
6/17 SB 1202 Extends Convicted Felons' Voting Rights if They are Committed to Confinement Bill Passed - House (89 - 50)
6/17 HB 4528 Requires Election Challengers to Undergo Training Bill Passed - House (105 - 4)
6/16 H 6004 Authorizes Persons with Disabilities and Persons Active in the Military to Receive and Return Mail Ballots Electronically Bill Passed - House (48 - 17)
6/16 AB 369 Amends Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (59 - 38)
6/10 SB 221 Establishes a Voting System Commission to Examine Voting Standards and Regulations Conference Report Adopted - House (69 - 34)
6/10 S 4306B Expands Early Voting Access Bill Passed - House (108 - 41)
6/10 S 7191 Authorizes a Write-in Ballot Cast in a Party Primary to Petition for a Candidate Not Enrolled in Such Party to be Void and Not Counted Bill Passed - House (101 - 48)
6/10 H 3871 Appropriates Funds for a Supplemental Budget Bill Passed - House (131 - 29)
6/10 HB 90 Amends Campaign Finance Laws to Authorize Spending Related to Child Care Costs Bill Passed - House (28 - 13)
6/09 S 7150 Amends State Congressional Districts Bill Passed - House (103 - 45)
6/09 LD 1363 Amends the Statutory Language Regarding Elections Determined by Ranked Choice Voting Bill Passed - House (78 - 53)
6/09 LD 1126 Requires the Secretary of State Establish an Online Voter Registration Application Bill Passed - House (81 - 61)
6/08 HB 21-1071 Authorizes Ranked Choice Voting to be Used for Municipal Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (50 - 15)
6/08 HB 704 Amends Rules Related to Election Administration Concurrence Vote Passed - House (68 - 31)
6/08 LD 1575 Authorizes Student ID's to be Used as Voter Identification Cards Bill Passed - House (79 - 58)
6/07 SB 224 Increases Requirements for Absentee Voting by Mail Bill Passed - House (68 - 27)
6/07 SB 220 Establishes Rules for Legislative Auditor Examinations, Audits, and Reviews of Elections and Retention of Election Records Bill Passed - House (68 - 28)
6/03 SB 21-250 Requires the Secretary of State to Allow Voters to Register to Vote Using the Last 4 Digits of their Social Security Number Bill Passed - House (40 - 23)
5/31 SB 292 Amends the Deadline to Challenge the Qualification of a Minor Political Party Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
5/30 HB 1987 Amends Eligibility Requirements for Candidates Seeking Elective Office of Federal, State, or County Government Concurrence Vote Passed - House (99 - 18)
5/28 HB 2283 Limits How Funding is Used to Administer Elections in the State Concurrence Vote Passed - House (96 - 50)
5/28 AB 432 Amends the Automatic Voter Registration Initiative Bill Passed - House (26 - 16)
5/27 SB 959 Establishes Procedures for Filling U.S. Senate Vacancies Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 24)
5/26 SB 1713 Repeals Early Ballot Laws Bill Failed - House (29 - 31)
5/26 AB 321 Specifies Changes Made to the State's Elections During the Pandemic are Permanent Bill Passed - House (25 - 16)
5/26 AB 126 Amends the Date of the 2024 State Presidential Caucus Bill Passed - House (30 - 11)
5/25 SB 1387 Requires Voting System Equipment be Manufactured, Stores, and Held in the United States Bill Passed - House (108 - 35)
5/25 SB 1111 Requires Voters Register Their Physical Address Instead of a P.O. Box When Registering to Vote Bill Passed - House (81 - 65)
5/24 SB 1113 Authorizes the Secretary of State's Office to Withhold Funding from County Election Officials Bill Passed - House (97 - 46)
5/24 HB 3291 Requires Ballots Returned by Mail to be Postmarked by the Date of the Election Bill Passed - House (39 - 21)
5/18 HB 574 Establishes 2 New Classes of Election Fraud Offenses Concurrence Vote Passed - House (94 - 48)
5/18 HB 138 Requires Conducting a Supplemental Canvass of Registered Voters Bill Passed - House (64 - 30)
5/14 SB 86 Prohibits Any Public Funds from Being Used by School Districts for Supporting or Opposing Ballot Measures or Candidates Conference Report Adopted - House (100 - 35)
5/14 HB 3920 Authorizes Pregnant Women to Vote by Mail if Their Due Date is 3 Weeks Before or After the Election Bill Passed - House (99 - 44)
5/11 A 6046 Authorizes the Board of Elections to Accept an Electronic Application for an Absentee Ballot when Submitted by a Voter Bill Passed - House (104 - 43)
5/11 A 6047 Amends the Deadlines for the Mailing and Receipt of Absentee Ballots from the Day Before the Election to Election Day Bill Passed - House (104 - 43)
5/11 AB 173 Prohibits Local Government Officials from Using Private Funds to Administer Elections Bill Passed - House (60 - 36)
5/07 SB 7 Prohibits Election Officials from Mailing Unsolicited Ballots Bill Passed - House (78 - 64)
5/07 HB 2149 Establishes Mobile or "Rolling" Temporary Polling Places Bill Passed - House (99 - 41)
5/06 HJ 59 Authorizes Early Voting in Specific Cases Bill Passed - House (115 - 26)
5/05 SB 21-188 Authorizes a Voter with a Disability to Print the Ballot or Return the Ballot by Electronic Transmission Bill Passed - House (41 - 22)
5/05 S 1064 Specifies Voters Must be Issued a New Ballot of the Same Type they Originally Requested Bill Passed - House (48 - 11)
5/05 HR 91 Establishes a Task Force to Review the Failure to Advertise a Proposed Constitutional Amendment Resolution Passed - House (111 - 90)
5/04 HB 2564 Amends the Election Recount Process to Require Recounts on Statewide Issues or Question Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (73 - 18)
5/04 HB 20 Prohibits the Use of Private Funds to Pay Election-Related Expenses Bill Passed - House (69 - 35)
5/04 HB 378 Establishes a Felon Can Register to Vote if the Person has Not Been Incarcerated Within the Last 5 Years Bill Passed - House (83 - 17)
4/29 SB 7072 Prohibits Social Media Companies from "Deplatforming" Political Candidates Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 38)
4/29 SB 90 Establishes Restrictions on Vote-By-Mail and Drop Boxes Concurrence Vote Passed - House (77 - 40)

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