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:
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.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 12, 2025 | CA | AB 1079 | Repeals the Automatic Stay of Judgment in Voting Rights and Fair Maps Cases | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 13) |
| Sept. 8, 2025 | CA | AB 5 | Requires Election Officials to Complete the Counting of All Ballots Within 13 Days Following an Election | Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| Aug. 21, 2025 | CA | SB 280 | Establishes Timelines Procedures, and Appropriates Funding for Redistricting | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 8) |
| Aug. 21, 2025 | CA | AB 604 | Amends State Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| Aug. 21, 2025 | CA | ACA 8 | Authorizes a Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Redistricting | Amendment Adopted - Senate (30 - 8) |
| July 17, 2025 | CA | AB 17 | Requires County Election Offices to Post Up-to-date Precinct Maps Online | Bill Passed - Senate (35 - 0) |
| Aug. 27, 2024 | CA | AB 1807 | Amends Certain Sections of the Elections Code Relating to Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| Aug. 27, 2024 | CA | AB 1807 | Amends Certain Sections of the Elections Code Relating to Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 8) |
| May 21, 2024 | CA | SB 1331 | Establishes a Fund for Reparations and Reparative Justice | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| Sept. 12, 2023 | CA | SB 314 | Establishes an Independent Citizen's Redistricting Commission in Sacramento County | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Sept. 12, 2023 | CA | AB 1248 | Requires Local Jurisdictions by 2030 Form Independent Redistricting Commissions | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 7) |
| Sept. 5, 2023 | CA | AB 421 | Amends the Signature Gathering Process for Ballot Initiatives | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| Aug. 30, 2022 | CA | SB 1360 | Amends the California Election Code to Require Transparency of Contributors and Advertisements | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| Sept. 3, 2021 | CA | SB 594 | Amends Redistricting Regulations for Congressional Districts | Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 0) |
| June 28, 2021 | CA | SB 152 | Authorizes a Recall Election without the Approval of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 9) |
| Jan. 28, 2021 | CA | SB 29 | Authorizes the Continuation of Mail-In Ballots | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 7) |
| Aug. 28, 2020 | CA | AB 646 | Authorizes Individuals on Parole for a Felony Conviction to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 10) |
| June 11, 2020 | CA | AB 860 | Authorizes Vote By Mail Absentee Ballots | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 7) |
| Sept. 10, 2019 | CA | AB 681 | Requires Voter Party Affiliation Notification Prior To Primary Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| May 2, 2019 | CA | SB 27 | Requires Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| June 21, 2018 | CA | AB 216 | Authorizes Free Postage for Vote by Mail | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| April 5, 2018 | CA | SB 1171 | Authorizes Same Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 10) |
| Aug. 16, 2016 | CA | AB 2466 | Expands Voting Rights for Certain Convicted Felons | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| Aug. 17, 2015 | CA | AB 1100 | Increases Ballot Initiative Fee | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 14) |
| June 23, 2014 | CA | AJR 1 | Requests Constitutional Convention to Overturn Citizens United | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| May 29, 2014 | CA | SB 1253 | Amends Legislative Initiative Measure Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| May 8, 2014 | CA | SB 27 | Requires Certain Nonprofit Organizations to Disclose Donors | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (28 - 7) |
| Feb. 20, 2014 | CA | AB 800 | Authorizes the Fair Political Practices Commission to Conduct Audits and Investigations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| July 8, 2013 | CA | AB 817 | Amends Poll Worker Eligibility Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| Aug. 23, 2012 | CA | AB 1436 | Authorizes Same-Day Voter Registration | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 13) |
| June 27, 2012 | CA | AB 1499 | Ballot Order for Statewide Measures | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 15) |
| Sept. 10, 2011 | CA | SB 202 | Limiting Ballot Initiatives to the General Election | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| July 14, 2011 | CA | AB 459 | National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| May 9, 2011 | CA | SB 168 | Prohibits Paid Signature-Gatherers | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Aug. 25, 2010 | CA | SB 970 | College Vote-by-Mail Drop-Off Locations | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (23 - 11) |
| Aug. 29, 2008 | CA | AB 583 | Public Financing of Elections | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 19, 2008 | CA | GN Borucki | Confirmation of Joan Borucki as State Lottery Director | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (32 - 3) |
| Feb. 13, 2007 | CA | SB 113 | Presidential Primaries | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 5) |
| Aug. 16, 2006 | CA | SCA 3 | Redistricting Commission | Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |