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
Feb. 13, 2025 AZ HB 2703 Amends the State Ballot Counting Process Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
Feb. 12, 2025 AR SB 209 Prohibits Signatures Gathered by Canvassers Which Violated State Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
Feb. 12, 2025 WY HB 337 Prohibits Political Groups Including PACS and Organizations Influencing State Policy from Allowing Foreign Nationals to Fund or Participate in the Initiative Bill Passed - House (58 - 2)
Feb. 12, 2025 AR SB 207 Requires Canvassers to Disclose Warnings on Petition Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
Feb. 12, 2025 AR SB 208 Requires Canvassers to Request a Photo ID of Potential Signers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
Feb. 12, 2025 AZ HB 2703 Amends the State Ballot Counting Process Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
Feb. 12, 2025 KY HB 45 Prohibits Foreign Donors and Entities from Donating to Campaigns for Ballot Measures Bill Passed - House (85 - 12)
Feb. 12, 2025 AR SB 211 Requires Canvassers to File an Affidavit Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
Feb. 11, 2025 MS SB 2654 Authorizes Early Voting 15-Days Before an Election Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
Feb. 10, 2025 SD HB 1130 Amends the Date for School Board and Municipal Elections Bill Passed - House (52 - 16)
Feb. 10, 2025 SD HB 1184 Amends the Deadline for Filing a Petition to get a Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot Bill Passed - House (59 - 9)
Feb. 7, 2025 MT HB 221 Amends Municipal Election Dates from Odd to Even-Numbered Years Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
Feb. 5, 2025 SD SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - House (38 - 29)
Feb. 5, 2025 SD SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - House (38 - 29)
Feb. 5, 2025 KS SB 6 Prohibits the Use of Ranked-Choice Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Feb. 5, 2025 SD HB 1127 Requires that Notice of a County's Canvass, Post-Election Audit, and Testing of Automatic Tabulating Equipment be Posted to the Secretary of State's Website Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
Feb. 5, 2025 KS SB 4 Establishes Deadline for Returning Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 1657 Establishes Timelines for Removal of Ineligible Voters Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA SB 1002 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
Feb. 4, 2025 IN SB 10 Prohibits Use of School IDs for Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2276 Establishes Guidelines for Verifying and Protecting Voter Registration Information Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2056 Authorizes Localities to Set Hours of Operation for Satellite Voting Locations Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2277 Establishes Regulations for Electoral Board Members Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2165 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA HB 2165 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)
Feb. 4, 2025 VA SB 1002 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
Jan. 31, 2025 VA HJR 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 30, 2025 NJ A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26)
Jan. 30, 2025 NJ A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26)
Jan. 30, 2025 NJ A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Jan. 30, 2025 NJ A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
Jan. 23, 2025 SD SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Jan. 23, 2025 SD SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
Jan. 22, 2025 SD HJR 5003 Authorizes Asking Voters to Increase the Approval Threshold for Constitutional Amendments from a Simple Majority to 60% Joint Resolution Passed - House (61 - 5)
Jan. 21, 2025 ND HB 1178 Requires School Districts Allow Time for Students to Vote in Elections Bill Passed - House (86 - 1)
Jan. 20, 2025 WY HB 156 Requires 30-Day Residency Before Registering to Vote Bill Passed - House (51 - 8)
Jan. 14, 2025 WI SJR 2 Authorizes a Constitutional Amendment that Requires Voter ID Joint Resolution Passed - House (54 - 45)
Jan. 14, 2025 VA HJR 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Joint Resolution Passed - House (55 - 44)
Jan. 13, 2025 NY S 88 Amends Various New York Laws Relating to Elections and Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
Jan. 8, 2025 WI SJR 2 Authorizes a Constitutional Amendment that Requires Voter ID Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 15)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/13 HB 2703 Amends the State Ballot Counting Process Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 10)
2/12 SB 209 Prohibits Signatures Gathered by Canvassers Which Violated State Law Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 11)
2/12 HB 337 Prohibits Political Groups Including PACS and Organizations Influencing State Policy from Allowing Foreign Nationals to Fund or Participate in the Initiative Bill Passed - House (58 - 2)
2/12 SB 207 Requires Canvassers to Disclose Warnings on Petition Fraud Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
2/12 SB 208 Requires Canvassers to Request a Photo ID of Potential Signers Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 6)
2/12 HB 2703 Amends the State Ballot Counting Process Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
2/12 HB 45 Prohibits Foreign Donors and Entities from Donating to Campaigns for Ballot Measures Bill Passed - House (85 - 12)
2/12 SB 211 Requires Canvassers to File an Affidavit Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 9)
2/11 SB 2654 Authorizes Early Voting 15-Days Before an Election Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 12)
2/10 HB 1130 Amends the Date for School Board and Municipal Elections Bill Passed - House (52 - 16)
2/10 HB 1184 Amends the Deadline for Filing a Petition to get a Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot Bill Passed - House (59 - 9)
2/07 HB 221 Amends Municipal Election Dates from Odd to Even-Numbered Years Bill Passed - House (57 - 42)
2/05 SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - House (38 - 29)
2/05 SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - House (38 - 29)
2/05 SB 6 Prohibits the Use of Ranked-Choice Voting Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
2/05 HB 1127 Requires that Notice of a County's Canvass, Post-Election Audit, and Testing of Automatic Tabulating Equipment be Posted to the Secretary of State's Website Bill Passed - House (43 - 24)
2/05 SB 4 Establishes Deadline for Returning Absentee Ballots Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10)
2/04 HB 1657 Establishes Timelines for Removal of Ineligible Voters Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
2/04 SB 1002 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
2/04 SB 10 Prohibits Use of School IDs for Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 11)
2/04 HB 2276 Establishes Guidelines for Verifying and Protecting Voter Registration Information Bill Passed - House (56 - 42)
2/04 HB 2056 Authorizes Localities to Set Hours of Operation for Satellite Voting Locations Bill Passed - House (53 - 45)
2/04 HB 2277 Establishes Regulations for Electoral Board Members Bill Passed - House (51 - 47)
2/04 HB 2165 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)
2/04 HB 2165 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - House (99 - 0)
2/04 SB 1002 Prohibits the Use of Campaign Funds for Personal Expenses Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 4)
1/31 HJR 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/30 A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26)
1/30 A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 26)
1/30 A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
1/30 A 5117 Increases the Signature Threshold for State Office-Seekers Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13)
1/23 SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
1/23 SB 12 Repeals a Campaign Finance Loophole that Authorized Unlimited Funds Into a Campaign Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 13)
1/22 HJR 5003 Authorizes Asking Voters to Increase the Approval Threshold for Constitutional Amendments from a Simple Majority to 60% Joint Resolution Passed - House (61 - 5)
1/21 HB 1178 Requires School Districts Allow Time for Students to Vote in Elections Bill Passed - House (86 - 1)
1/20 HB 156 Requires 30-Day Residency Before Registering to Vote Bill Passed - House (51 - 8)
1/14 SJR 2 Authorizes a Constitutional Amendment that Requires Voter ID Joint Resolution Passed - House (54 - 45)
1/14 HJR 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Joint Resolution Passed - House (55 - 44)
1/13 S 88 Amends Various New York Laws Relating to Elections and Automatic Voter Registration Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 21)
1/08 SJR 2 Authorizes a Constitutional Amendment that Requires Voter ID Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (17 - 15)

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