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 19, 2021 OK SB 710 Authorizes the State Election Board to Participate in Multistate Voter List Maintenance Organizations Bill Passed - House (68 - 20)
April 16, 2021 ID H 350 Requires Elections to Replace Trustees who are Recalled Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
April 15, 2021 IN HB 1123 Authorizes Lawmakers to Call a Special Session During a Public Emergency Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 26)
April 14, 2021 ID H 339 Prohibits a Governmental Entity from Mandating Face Coverings Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
April 13, 2021 IN SB 353 Requires Presenting Valid Identification to Request an Absentee Ballot Online Bill Passed - House (71 - 23)
April 13, 2021 AR SB 488 Exempts Certain Forms of Examining and Copying of Public Records Bill Passed - House (71 - 21)
April 13, 2021 AR SB 488 Exempts Certain Forms of Examining and Copying of Public Records Bill Passed - House (71 - 21)
April 12, 2021 MD HB 206 Increases the Hours Early Voting Centers are Mandated to be Open for Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 24)
April 12, 2021 MD SB 525 Requires the Baltimore City Centralized Booking Facility Provide a Secure Designated Ballot Drop Box Bill Passed - House (95 - 43)
April 12, 2021 MT SB 350 Amends the Election Law Regarding Minor Parties Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
April 10, 2021 MD HB 156 Authorizes a Military or Overseas Voter to Submit a Federal Post Card Application to Vote Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 25)
April 9, 2021 HI SB 159 Requires Automatic Voter Registration When Receiving Driver's Licenses Bill Passed - House (49 - 1)
April 9, 2021 NH HB 183 Prohibits Municipalities from Requiring a License for a Soft Drink Stand "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (211 - 163)
April 9, 2021 NH HB 566 Requires Minutes of Meetings in Nonpublic Sessions to be Made Available Unless it Would Damage the Reputation of the Body "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (201 - 178)
April 9, 2021 NH CACR 9 Prohibits Municipalities from Raising Property Taxes "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (164 - 208)
April 9, 2021 NH HB 439 Limits the Authority of City Councils Bill Failed - House (185 - 192)
April 9, 2021 TX HB 1239 Prohibits Elected Officials from Closing Places of Worship Bill Passed - House (122 - 22)
April 8, 2021 MD HB 1048 Requires the Local Board of Elections Consider Certain Factors when Determining Ballot Drop Box Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 42)
April 8, 2021 NH HB 285 Limits the Process of Verifying Local Voter Checklists by the Secretary of State "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (199 - 172)
April 8, 2021 NH HB 523 Requires Those who Register to Vote and Don't Have Identification to be Photographed "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (197 - 172)
April 8, 2021 NH HB 98 Establishes a New Date for the State Primary Bill Passed - House (195 - 174)
April 8, 2021 NH HB 292 Requires Voters Verify Their Identity in Order to Receive an Absentee Ballot Bill Passed - House (198 - 174)
April 7, 2021 ID H 214 Specifies Responsibilities of the Chairman of the Idaho State Tax Commission Veto Override Passed - House (62 - 7)
April 7, 2021 VA SB 1245 Requires the Establishment of Drop-Box Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 45)
April 7, 2021 ID S 1136 Establishes Restrictions on the Governor's Authority During an Emergency Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)
Date No. Title Outcome
4/19 SB 710 Authorizes the State Election Board to Participate in Multistate Voter List Maintenance Organizations Bill Passed - House (68 - 20)
4/16 H 350 Requires Elections to Replace Trustees who are Recalled Bill Passed - House (55 - 14)
4/15 HB 1123 Authorizes Lawmakers to Call a Special Session During a Public Emergency Veto Override Passed - House (59 - 26)
4/14 H 339 Prohibits a Governmental Entity from Mandating Face Coverings Bill Passed - House (47 - 22)
4/13 SB 353 Requires Presenting Valid Identification to Request an Absentee Ballot Online Bill Passed - House (71 - 23)
4/13 SB 488 Exempts Certain Forms of Examining and Copying of Public Records Bill Passed - House (71 - 21)
4/13 SB 488 Exempts Certain Forms of Examining and Copying of Public Records Bill Passed - House (71 - 21)
4/12 HB 206 Increases the Hours Early Voting Centers are Mandated to be Open for Elections Concurrence Vote Passed - House (111 - 24)
4/12 SB 525 Requires the Baltimore City Centralized Booking Facility Provide a Secure Designated Ballot Drop Box Bill Passed - House (95 - 43)
4/12 SB 350 Amends the Election Law Regarding Minor Parties Bill Passed - House (67 - 33)
4/10 HB 156 Authorizes a Military or Overseas Voter to Submit a Federal Post Card Application to Vote Concurrence Vote Passed - House (108 - 25)
4/09 SB 159 Requires Automatic Voter Registration When Receiving Driver's Licenses Bill Passed - House (49 - 1)
4/09 HB 183 Prohibits Municipalities from Requiring a License for a Soft Drink Stand "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (211 - 163)
4/09 HB 566 Requires Minutes of Meetings in Nonpublic Sessions to be Made Available Unless it Would Damage the Reputation of the Body "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (201 - 178)
4/09 CACR 9 Prohibits Municipalities from Raising Property Taxes "Ought to Pass" Report Not Adopted - House (164 - 208)
4/09 HB 439 Limits the Authority of City Councils Bill Failed - House (185 - 192)
4/09 HB 1239 Prohibits Elected Officials from Closing Places of Worship Bill Passed - House (122 - 22)
4/08 HB 1048 Requires the Local Board of Elections Consider Certain Factors when Determining Ballot Drop Box Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (97 - 42)
4/08 HB 285 Limits the Process of Verifying Local Voter Checklists by the Secretary of State "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (199 - 172)
4/08 HB 523 Requires Those who Register to Vote and Don't Have Identification to be Photographed "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (197 - 172)
4/08 HB 98 Establishes a New Date for the State Primary Bill Passed - House (195 - 174)
4/08 HB 292 Requires Voters Verify Their Identity in Order to Receive an Absentee Ballot Bill Passed - House (198 - 174)
4/07 H 214 Specifies Responsibilities of the Chairman of the Idaho State Tax Commission Veto Override Passed - House (62 - 7)
4/07 SB 1245 Requires the Establishment of Drop-Box Locations Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 45)
4/07 S 1136 Establishes Restrictions on the Governor's Authority During an Emergency Bill Passed - House (54 - 16)

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