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
March 6, 2024 FL SB 7014 Increases the Maximum Fine for Violations of Specified Lobbying Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
Feb. 28, 2024 FL SJR 1114 Authorizes the Repeal of Article 6 of the Florida State Constitution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
Feb. 28, 2024 OH SB 215 Prohibits Foreign Nationals From Making Contributions or Expenditures Regarding Ballot Issue Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
Feb. 14, 2024 NM HB 182 Amends the State Campaign Reporting Act to Require Disclaimers on "Materially Deceptive Media" Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
Nov. 2, 2023 MI SB 615 Establishes Exceptions for Expenditure Disclosure Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
Nov. 1, 2023 MI SB 614 Requires Broad Financial Disclosure for State Candidates for Public Office Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
Nov. 1, 2023 MI SB 616 Prohibits Certain Candidate Expenditures and Disbursements Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
Nov. 1, 2023 MI SB 613 Requires Broad Financial Disclosure for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
June 23, 2023 ME LD 1610 Prohibits Campaign Spending by Foreign Governments and Establishes an Anticorruption Amendment in the State Constitution Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
March 30, 2023 NJ S 2866 Establishes the Elections Transparency Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
April 28, 2022 TN SB 1005 Requires State Candidates to Report Campaign Expenditures in Greater Detail Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 1)
March 7, 2022 FL HB 921 Establishes New Regulations and Limitations on Campaign Financing Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
Feb. 22, 2022 WI SB 935 Amends Various Election Fraud Laws Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
June 30, 2019 OR HB 2983 Requires Disclosure of Organizations Giving Certain Monetary Donations to Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
May 21, 2019 NY S 4347 Limits Corporate Influence and Participation in Political Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
April 26, 2019 ND SB 2148 Establishes the Creation of an Ethics Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
April 17, 2019 ND HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
March 28, 2019 NH SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
Jan. 14, 2019 NY A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 6)
Nov. 8, 2018 MI SB 1022 Authorizes use of Campaign Finance Funds for Repayment of Debts and Obligations of Campaigns by Former Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
April 3, 2017 TN SB 38 Amends Provisions for Campaign Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
Feb. 19, 2016 NC HB 2 Amends Congressional Primary Election Date Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
April 15, 2015 MT SB 289 Requires Certain Political Groups to Disclose Expenditures Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
Feb. 26, 2015 MT SB 289 Requires Certain Political Groups to Disclose Expenditures Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
Sept. 11, 2014 National S J Res 19 A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Contributions and Expenditures Intended to Affect Elections Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
Aug. 11, 2014 FL SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
May 2, 2014 CT SB 455 Amends the Funding for the Public Campaign Finance Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
March 12, 2014 WI SB 655 Amends Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
Jan. 16, 2014 VT S 82 Amends Campaign Finance Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8)
Dec. 12, 2013 MI SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
Nov. 14, 2013 MI SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
May 20, 2013 AL SB 445 Repeals Limits on Campaign Financing Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 4)
March 14, 2013 KS HB 2022 Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
July 17, 2012 National S 3369 DISCLOSE Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
March 8, 2012 ME LD 1774 Campaign Finance Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
Feb. 15, 2012 AK HB 311 Amends Requirements for Electronic Campaign Finance Disclosure Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 2)
Feb. 14, 2012 MI HB 5085 Prohibits public employers from deducting political contributions from employee paychecks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
May 20, 2011 TN SB 1915 Increases Contribution Limits to Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
Sept. 23, 2010 National S 3628 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 39)
July 27, 2010 National S 3628 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
April 22, 2008 VT S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
March 20, 2002 National HR 2356 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40)
April 2, 2001 National S 27 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
March 26, 2001 National S Amdt 145 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
March 21, 2001 National S Amdt 134 Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
March 20, 2001 National S Amdt 115 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
June 29, 2000 National HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
Feb. 26, 1998 National S Amdt 1646 Campaign Finance Reform Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
June 25, 1996 National S 1219 Campaign Finance Reform bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)
Date No. Title Outcome
3/06 SB 7014 Increases the Maximum Fine for Violations of Specified Lobbying Provisions Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
2/28 SJR 1114 Authorizes the Repeal of Article 6 of the Florida State Constitution Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (28 - 11)
2/28 SB 215 Prohibits Foreign Nationals From Making Contributions or Expenditures Regarding Ballot Issue Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 7)
2/14 HB 182 Amends the State Campaign Reporting Act to Require Disclaimers on "Materially Deceptive Media" Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 14)
11/02 SB 615 Establishes Exceptions for Expenditure Disclosure Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
11/01 SB 614 Requires Broad Financial Disclosure for State Candidates for Public Office Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
11/01 SB 616 Prohibits Certain Candidate Expenditures and Disbursements Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
11/01 SB 613 Requires Broad Financial Disclosure for State Officials Bill Passed - Senate (36 - 2)
6/23 LD 1610 Prohibits Campaign Spending by Foreign Governments and Establishes an Anticorruption Amendment in the State Constitution Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 13)
3/30 S 2866 Establishes the Elections Transparency Act Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (21 - 12)
4/28 SB 1005 Requires State Candidates to Report Campaign Expenditures in Greater Detail Conference Report Adopted - Senate (31 - 1)
3/07 HB 921 Establishes New Regulations and Limitations on Campaign Financing Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 16)
2/22 SB 935 Amends Various Election Fraud Laws Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 14)
6/30 HB 2983 Requires Disclosure of Organizations Giving Certain Monetary Donations to Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 7)
5/21 S 4347 Limits Corporate Influence and Participation in Political Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 18)
4/26 SB 2148 Establishes the Creation of an Ethics Commission Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (42 - 5)
4/17 HB 1521 Amends State Ethic Laws for Campaign Lobbying Bill Passed - Senate (39 - 8)
3/28 SB 156 Establishes Limits to Election Contributions by Limited Liability Corporations (13 - 11)
1/14 A 776 Limits Campaign Contributions by Closing LLC Loophole Bill Passed - Senate (55 - 6)
11/08 SB 1022 Authorizes use of Campaign Finance Funds for Repayment of Debts and Obligations of Campaigns by Former Candidates Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 12)
4/03 SB 38 Amends Provisions for Campaign Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 2)
2/19 HB 2 Amends Congressional Primary Election Date Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 15)
4/15 SB 289 Requires Certain Political Groups to Disclose Expenditures Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 20)
2/26 SB 289 Requires Certain Political Groups to Disclose Expenditures Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 22)
9/11 S J Res 19 A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Contributions and Expenditures Intended to Affect Elections Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 42)
8/11 SB 2-A Congressional Redistricting Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 12)
5/02 SB 455 Amends the Funding for the Public Campaign Finance Program Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 10)
3/12 SB 655 Amends Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 16)
1/16 S 82 Amends Campaign Finance Law Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 8)
12/12 SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 14)
11/14 SB 661 Amends Campaign Finance Regulations Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 18)
5/20 SB 445 Repeals Limits on Campaign Financing Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 4)
3/14 HB 2022 Prohibits Automatic Deductions by Public Labor Organizations for Political Fundraising Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 16)
7/17 S 3369 DISCLOSE Act Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (53 - 45)
3/08 LD 1774 Campaign Finance Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15)
2/15 HB 311 Amends Requirements for Electronic Campaign Finance Disclosure Conference Report Adopted - Senate (14 - 2)
2/14 HB 5085 Prohibits public employers from deducting political contributions from employee paychecks Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 12)
5/20 SB 1915 Increases Contribution Limits to Campaigns Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11)
9/23 S 3628 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (59 - 39)
7/27 S 3628 Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 41)
4/22 S 278 Campaign Finance Limitations Veto Override Passed - Senate (26 - 4)
3/20 HR 2356 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (60 - 40)
4/02 S 27 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Bill Passed - Senate (59 - 41)
3/26 S Amdt 145 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 46)
3/21 S Amdt 134 Campaign Reform Act - Union Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (69 - 31)
3/20 S Amdt 115 Campaign Reform Act of 2001 Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 30)
6/29 HR 4762 '527' Political Groups Bill Passed - Senate (92 - 6)
2/26 S Amdt 1646 Campaign Finance Reform Amendment Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (51 - 48)
6/25 S 1219 Campaign Finance Reform bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (54 - 46)

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