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
April 21, 2021 OK HB 2564 Amends the Election Recount Process to Require Recounts on Statewide Issues or Question Elections Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
April 21, 2021 OH SB 80 Requires Party Affiliations of Judicial Candidates to be Listed on Election Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
April 20, 2021 ND SB 2271 Establishes a Statement of Legislative Intent Regarding Presidential Elections Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8)
April 19, 2021 OK HB 2939 Requires the County Election Board Record Every Voter's Ballot History Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
April 15, 2021 IN SB 398 Limits the Hours of an Election Drop Box and Expands Voting for Those with Disabilities Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 2)
April 14, 2021 WI SB 213 Authorizes Individuals to File Election Law Violation Claims Against Election Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 14, 2021 TN SB 1534 Prohibits Any Person from Contributing Funds to the State Election Commission to Conduct Elections Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
April 14, 2021 WI SB 210 Requires Election Administrators Allow Election Observers to be No More Than 3 Feet Away from Voter Registration Tables Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
April 13, 2021 OK HB 1752 Establishes a 30-Day Time Limit for a County Election Board to Remove Deceased People from the Central Registry Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
April 13, 2021 AR HB 1715 Requires Voters' Signatures on Absentee Ballots Match the Signature from Their Voter Registration Application Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
April 13, 2021 AZ HB 2359 Requires any Method of Electronic Access to be Secured While Voting In Person Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
April 13, 2021 AR SB 643 Limits the Time Frame for Absentee Ballot Applications to be Received Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
April 12, 2021 TX SB 1112 Increases Penalties for Accepting Early Mail-In Ballots Without Verifying the Signature Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
April 12, 2021 TX SB 1114 Requires Voter Registrars Cross-Reference Voter Rolls with the DMV to Remove Ineligible Voters Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
April 12, 2021 CO SB 21-188 Authorizes a Voter with a Disability to Print the Ballot or Return the Ballot by Electronic Transmission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
April 8, 2021 TN HB 1448 Authorizes Non-Resident Property Owners to Vote in Municipal Elections Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
April 8, 2021 TN SB 1120 Prohibits a Multi-Candidate Political Campaign Committee Officer from Running for State Office if Lawyer Fees Remain Unpaid Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
April 7, 2021 VA SB 1245 Requires the Establishment of Drop-Box Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
April 7, 2021 AZ HCR 2023 Prohibits the Federal Government's Interference in the State's Elections Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
April 7, 2021 AZ HB 2569 Prohibits Election Administrators from Receiving Private Funding for Conducting Elections Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
April 7, 2021 AR SB 498 Requires Written Complaints be Sent by the County Board of Election Commissioners to the State Board of Election Commissioners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
April 7, 2021 AR SB 557 Amends the Duties of County Board Election Commissioner Members Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
April 6, 2021 MD HB 1048 Requires the Local Board of Elections Consider Certain Factors when Determining Ballot Drop Box Locations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
April 2, 2021 MD SB 683 Authorizes Individuals to Request Permanent Absentee Voting Status Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
April 1, 2021 IN SB 260 Authorizes 16 or 17 Year-Olds to Serve as a Precinct Election Officers on Election Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
April 1, 2021 AR SB 487 Requires Election Officials to Ensure Electronic Pollbooks are Secure Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
April 1, 2021 AR SB 488 Exempts Certain Forms of Examining and Copying of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
April 1, 2021 AR SB 486 Prohibits Individuals from Entering or Remaining in an Area Where Voting is Taking Place Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
April 1, 2021 TX SB 7 Prohibits Election Officials from Mailing Unsolicited Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
March 31, 2021 MT SB 196 Authorizes Voting Precincts with Less than 400 In-Person Voters to Open at Noon Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
March 31, 2021 MT SB 169 Prohibits Same-Day Voter Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
March 31, 2021 MD HB 745 Increases the Number of Early Voting Centers in Certain Counties Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
March 31, 2021 SC S 499 Requires Legislative Oversight Over Governor Election Commission Appointments Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7)
March 30, 2021 DE SB 5 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at DMVs Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
March 25, 2021 NJ S 3203 Requires an In-Person Early Voting Period for Certain Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
March 25, 2021 GA SB 202 Amends Election Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
March 25, 2021 IN HB 1485 Establishes it is a Crime for Someone to Refuse to Leave a Polling Place After Directed Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 8)
March 25, 2021 NJ A 5373 Authorizes County Board of Elections to Determine the Location of Certain Ballot Drop Boxes Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
March 24, 2021 WA HB 1078 Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
March 18, 2021 VT S 15 Extends the Policy of Mailing "Live" Ballots to All Active Voters Permanently Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
March 18, 2021 ID S 1168 Requires that Elections Must be Funded by Federal, State, or Local Government Entities Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
March 17, 2021 AR HB 1522 Establishes a Misdemeanor Offense for False Statements by Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
March 17, 2021 IA SF 568 Amends Election Law Related to Amendments to the State Constitution Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
March 16, 2021 KY HB 574 Authorizes Early In-Person Voting and Mail-In Voting Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
March 12, 2021 MD SB 525 Requires the Baltimore City Centralized Booking Facility Provide a Secure Designated Ballot Drop Box Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
March 11, 2021 MA H 73 Establishes That Early Voting by Mail-In Ballot Can Continue Through the End of June Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
March 11, 2021 ME LD 102 Extends the Time for Processing Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
March 11, 2021 MD SB 10 Prohibits Individuals from Possessing a Firearm Within 100 Feet of a Polling Site Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
March 10, 2021 AZ SCR 1034 Limits the Voter Protection Act Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
March 9, 2021 HI SB 550 Establishes New Age Requirements for Voting in Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 1)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/21 HB 2564 Amends the Election Recount Process to Require Recounts on Statewide Issues or Question Elections Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 8)
4/21 SB 80 Requires Party Affiliations of Judicial Candidates to be Listed on Election Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
4/20 SB 2271 Establishes a Statement of Legislative Intent Regarding Presidential Elections Conference Report Adopted - Senate (39 - 8)
4/19 HB 2939 Requires the County Election Board Record Every Voter's Ballot History Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 12)
4/15 SB 398 Limits the Hours of an Election Drop Box and Expands Voting for Those with Disabilities Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (40 - 2)
4/14 SB 213 Authorizes Individuals to File Election Law Violation Claims Against Election Officials Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/14 SB 1534 Prohibits Any Person from Contributing Funds to the State Election Commission to Conduct Elections Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
4/14 SB 210 Requires Election Administrators Allow Election Observers to be No More Than 3 Feet Away from Voter Registration Tables Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11)
4/13 HB 1752 Establishes a 30-Day Time Limit for a County Election Board to Remove Deceased People from the Central Registry Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 8)
4/13 HB 1715 Requires Voters' Signatures on Absentee Ballots Match the Signature from Their Voter Registration Application Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 8)
4/13 HB 2359 Requires any Method of Electronic Access to be Secured While Voting In Person Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 0)
4/13 SB 643 Limits the Time Frame for Absentee Ballot Applications to be Received Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 8)
4/12 SB 1112 Increases Penalties for Accepting Early Mail-In Ballots Without Verifying the Signature Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
4/12 SB 1114 Requires Voter Registrars Cross-Reference Voter Rolls with the DMV to Remove Ineligible Voters Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
4/12 SB 21-188 Authorizes a Voter with a Disability to Print the Ballot or Return the Ballot by Electronic Transmission Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 13)
4/08 HB 1448 Authorizes Non-Resident Property Owners to Vote in Municipal Elections Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
4/08 SB 1120 Prohibits a Multi-Candidate Political Campaign Committee Officer from Running for State Office if Lawyer Fees Remain Unpaid Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6)
4/07 SB 1245 Requires the Establishment of Drop-Box Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 19)
4/07 HCR 2023 Prohibits the Federal Government's Interference in the State's Elections Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
4/07 HB 2569 Prohibits Election Administrators from Receiving Private Funding for Conducting Elections Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
4/07 SB 498 Requires Written Complaints be Sent by the County Board of Election Commissioners to the State Board of Election Commissioners Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
4/07 SB 557 Amends the Duties of County Board Election Commissioner Members Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
4/06 HB 1048 Requires the Local Board of Elections Consider Certain Factors when Determining Ballot Drop Box Locations Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
4/02 SB 683 Authorizes Individuals to Request Permanent Absentee Voting Status Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (32 - 15)
4/01 SB 260 Authorizes 16 or 17 Year-Olds to Serve as a Precinct Election Officers on Election Day Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (37 - 11)
4/01 SB 487 Requires Election Officials to Ensure Electronic Pollbooks are Secure Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
4/01 SB 488 Exempts Certain Forms of Examining and Copying of Public Records Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 5)
4/01 SB 486 Prohibits Individuals from Entering or Remaining in an Area Where Voting is Taking Place Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 7)
4/01 SB 7 Prohibits Election Officials from Mailing Unsolicited Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13)
3/31 SB 196 Authorizes Voting Precincts with Less than 400 In-Person Voters to Open at Noon Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
3/31 SB 169 Prohibits Same-Day Voter Registration Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18)
3/31 HB 745 Increases the Number of Early Voting Centers in Certain Counties Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 14)
3/31 S 499 Requires Legislative Oversight Over Governor Election Commission Appointments Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7)
3/30 SB 5 Authorizes Automatic Voter Registration at DMVs Bill Passed - Senate (14 - 7)
3/25 S 3203 Requires an In-Person Early Voting Period for Certain Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 8)
3/25 SB 202 Amends Election Laws Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (34 - 20)
3/25 HB 1485 Establishes it is a Crime for Someone to Refuse to Leave a Polling Place After Directed Bill Passed - Senate (42 - 8)
3/25 A 5373 Authorizes County Board of Elections to Determine the Location of Certain Ballot Drop Boxes Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 12)
3/24 HB 1078 Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 22)
3/18 S 15 Extends the Policy of Mailing "Live" Ballots to All Active Voters Permanently Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3)
3/18 S 1168 Requires that Elections Must be Funded by Federal, State, or Local Government Entities Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 7)
3/17 HB 1522 Establishes a Misdemeanor Offense for False Statements by Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 1)
3/17 SF 568 Amends Election Law Related to Amendments to the State Constitution Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 17)
3/16 HB 574 Authorizes Early In-Person Voting and Mail-In Voting Restrictions Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 3)
3/12 SB 525 Requires the Baltimore City Centralized Booking Facility Provide a Secure Designated Ballot Drop Box Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 11)
3/11 H 73 Establishes That Early Voting by Mail-In Ballot Can Continue Through the End of June Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 0)
3/11 LD 102 Extends the Time for Processing Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 8)
3/11 SB 10 Prohibits Individuals from Possessing a Firearm Within 100 Feet of a Polling Site Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 13)
3/10 SCR 1034 Limits the Voter Protection Act Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (16 - 14)
3/09 SB 550 Establishes New Age Requirements for Voting in Primaries Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 1)

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