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
Feb. 19, 2026 NH HB 1792 Prohibits the Instruction of Critical Race Theory and LGBTQ+ Issues in Schools "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (184 - 164)
Feb. 19, 2026 FL HJR 203 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Exempt Homestead Property From Taxation Bill Passed - House (80 - 30)
Feb. 9, 2026 AZ HCR 2001 Amends the State Constitution to Prohibit Absentee Ballot Drop-Off on Election Day Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
Feb. 5, 2026 MD SB 5 Amends the State Constitution to Require Special Elections at the Same Time as Regular Elections Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 1)
Feb. 5, 2026 ID H 557 Prohibits Local Governments in Idaho From Enacting Anti-Discrimination Policies Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
Feb. 4, 2026 NY S 496 Requires Employers to Inform Their Employees of Certain Parties with Whom They May Share Otherwise Protected Information Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 0)
Jan. 27, 2026 CA SB 747 Authorizes Individuals to File Lawsuits Against Any Federal, State, or Local Official Who Violates Their Constitutional Rights Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
Jan. 27, 2026 SD HJR 5001 Amends the State Constitution to Restrict Eminent Domain Use Bill Passed - House (62 - 5)
Jan. 26, 2026 SD SJR 501 Amends the State Constitution to Establish Term Limits for Members of the Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
Jan. 16, 2026 VA HJ 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 16, 2026 VA HJ 4 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Authorize Redistricting Outside of the Decennial Cycle if Another State Also Redistricts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
Jan. 14, 2026 VA HJ 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (65 - 33)
Jan. 14, 2026 VA HJ 4 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Authorize Redistricting Outside of the Decennial Cycle if Another State Also Redistricts Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)
Date No. Title Outcome
2/19 HB 1792 Prohibits the Instruction of Critical Race Theory and LGBTQ+ Issues in Schools "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (184 - 164)
2/19 HJR 203 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Exempt Homestead Property From Taxation Bill Passed - House (80 - 30)
2/09 HCR 2001 Amends the State Constitution to Prohibit Absentee Ballot Drop-Off on Election Day Bill Passed - House (32 - 27)
2/05 SB 5 Amends the State Constitution to Require Special Elections at the Same Time as Regular Elections Bill Passed - Senate (43 - 1)
2/05 H 557 Prohibits Local Governments in Idaho From Enacting Anti-Discrimination Policies Bill Passed - House (53 - 16)
2/04 S 496 Requires Employers to Inform Their Employees of Certain Parties with Whom They May Share Otherwise Protected Information Bill Passed - Senate (62 - 0)
1/27 SB 747 Authorizes Individuals to File Lawsuits Against Any Federal, State, or Local Official Who Violates Their Constitutional Rights Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 10)
1/27 HJR 5001 Amends the State Constitution to Restrict Eminent Domain Use Bill Passed - House (62 - 5)
1/26 SJR 501 Amends the State Constitution to Establish Term Limits for Members of the Legislature Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 14)
1/16 HJ 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/16 HJ 4 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Authorize Redistricting Outside of the Decennial Cycle if Another State Also Redistricts Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18)
1/14 HJ 2 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment that Restores Felon Voting Rights Bill Passed - House (65 - 33)
1/14 HJ 4 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Authorize Redistricting Outside of the Decennial Cycle if Another State Also Redistricts Bill Passed - House (62 - 33)

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