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Data through Sep 17, 2026Compare members
The Vote Ledger
JJ

James Merrill Jeffords

Senator from Vermont
SENATEREPUBLICAN→INDEPENDENT1975–2007ID J000072
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
60%with Dems
of 6,479 votes
Nominations
78%with Dems
of 95 · confirmations only
All contested
60%with Dems
of 6,574 · both combined
Steepest move
+31 pts
1999 → 2001
the label changed
Changed parties
107th
R → I · first Congress under it

Career arc

Legislation leads. Each point is one Congress: how often they sided with the Democratic majority on contested bills, resolutions and amendments.

100%75%50%25%0%sides with Democrats ↑sides with Republicans ↓197519811987199319992005R→I · 107th
2005–06109th Congress
Sat as an Independent
91.4%with Democrats
legislation only
Votes for this Congress are open below
Steepest move: 1999 → 2001, +31 pts — the Congress the label changed.
Sat as a DemocratSat as a RepublicanVotes available below

Votes

DateBillVoteTypeCastSided with
Dec 8, 2006noneKent A. Jordan, of Delaware, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third CircuitNOMINATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Dec 8, 2006noneKent A. Jordan, of Delaware, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third CircuitNOMINATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Dec 6, 2006noneRobert M. Gates, of Texas, to be Secretary of DefenseNOMINATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Full textRobert M. Gates, of Texas, to be Secretary of DefenseParty majoritiesDemocrats Yea · Republicans YeaCounts toward scoreNo — both party majorities voted Yea.
Where this lands
YEAVoted with both majorities — not scored
Dec 5, 2006H.R. 5384To provide emergency agricultural disaster assistance.LEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Nov 16, 2006S. 3709To declare that it is the policy of the United States to continue to support implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1172 (1998).LEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Nov 16, 2006S. 3709To limit the waiver authority of the President.LEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Nov 14, 2006H.R. 5385An act making appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Sep 29, 2006S. 403A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions.LEGISLATIONNAYDEM MAJORITY
Sep 29, 2006H.R. 6061A bill to establish operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States.LEGISLATIONNAYNEITHER · NOT SCORED
9 most recent roll calls shown · 373 contested votes scored in the 109th CongressAll votes this Congress →

By policy area

career · legislation
Economics and Public Finance60.3% · 1,970 votes
Armed Forces and National Security72.4% · 518 votes
Government Operations and Politics53% · 479 votes
International Affairs68.1% · 382 votes
Congress31.6% · 354 votes
Taxation49.8% · 331 votes
Labor and Employment62.4% · 170 votes
Health61.2% · 165 votes
Foreign Trade and International Finance61% · 164 votes
Energy69.6% · 158 votes
Crime and Law Enforcement66.7% · 156 votes
Education58.2% · 146 votes
Transportation and Public Works48.6% · 144 votes
Agriculture and Food67.6% · 142 votes
Finance and Financial Sector57.2% · 138 votes
Social Welfare51.4% · 105 votes
Science, Technology, Communications59.8% · 97 votes
Environmental Protection67.4% · 89 votes
Immigration65.1% · 86 votes
Public Lands and Natural Resources67.5% · 83 votes
Housing and Community Development55.4% · 74 votes
Law72.5% · 69 votes
Commerce34.4% · 64 votes
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues82.1% · 39 votes
Water Resources Development63.9% · 36 votes
Emergency Management96% · 25 votes
Native Americans73.7% · 19 votes
Industrial relations42.9% · 14 votes
Commemorations61.5% · 13 votes
Families76.9% · 13 votes
Too few contested votes to score
Independent regulatory commissions— · 9 votes
Lobbying— · 9 votes
Private Legislation— · 8 votes
Depletion allowances— · 7 votes
Arts, Culture, Religion— · 6 votes
Electronic surveillance— · 6 votes
Mines and mineral resources— · 6 votes
Mortgages— · 6 votes
Vietnamese Conflict— · 6 votes
Black lung— · 5 votes
Home repair and improvement— · 5 votes
Constitutional amendments— · 4 votes
Government securities— · 4 votes
Income tax— · 4 votes
Municipal finance— · 4 votes
Political participation— · 4 votes
Social Sciences and History— · 4 votes
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 3 votes
Credit— · 3 votes
Embargo— · 3 votes
Financial disclosure— · 3 votes
Indian claims— · 3 votes
International economic relations— · 3 votes
Postal rates and revenues— · 3 votes
Public works— · 3 votes
Revenue sharing— · 3 votes
Conferences— · 2 votes
Contested elections— · 2 votes
Cultural centers— · 2 votes
Executive reorganization— · 2 votes
Life insurance— · 2 votes
Museums— · 2 votes
Power resources— · 2 votes
Printing— · 2 votes
Sports and Recreation— · 2 votes
Territories (U.S.)— · 2 votes
Youth— · 2 votes
Aquaculture— · 1 vote
Barber and beauty shops— · 1 vote
Chemicals— · 1 vote
Congressional oversight— · 1 vote
Day care— · 1 vote
Disabled— · 1 vote
Domestic relations— · 1 vote
Droughts— · 1 vote
Earthquakes— · 1 vote
Government corporations— · 1 vote
Heating— · 1 vote
Impeachments— · 1 vote
Import restrictions— · 1 vote
Intergovernmental relations— · 1 vote
Lakes— · 1 vote
Motor vehicles— · 1 vote
Noise— · 1 vote
Political representation— · 1 vote
Reclamation of land— · 1 vote
Refugees— · 1 vote
Rehabilitation— · 1 vote
Right to counsel— · 1 vote
Rivers— · 1 vote

They also voted in 67 areas where the parties never split, so there is nothing to score — never on a contested question: Age and employment, Agriculture in foreign trade, Animals, Auditing, Aviation insurance, Awards, medals, prizes, Broadcasting, Cemeteries and funerals, Checks, Child abuse, Citizenship, Clergy, Climate, Clothing industry, Commodity control, Conservation of natural resources, Contempt of legislative bodies, Corporations, Customs administration, Dairy industry, District of Columbia, Emigration, Federal advisory bodies, Federal-state relations, Fire fighters, Fishes, Gambling, Gold, Government life insurance, Government property, Government publications, Human rights, Insect control, Interest, Intergovernmental fiscal relations, International agencies, Leases, Libraries, Lotteries, Marine mammal protection, Marine resources conservation, Monuments and memorials, Municipal budgets, Municipal home rule, Municipal politics and government, Narcotics, National emblems, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Photovoltaic power systems, Political prisoners, Postal service, Prices, Public records, Real estate business, Real property, Recall of officials, Recreation areas, Referendum, Rural conditions, Salaries, Solar energy, Strategic materials, Terrorism, Tobacco, Water conservation, Witnesses.

Blue is the share of votes siding with the Democratic majority; the tick marks 50%.

Service record

16 Congresses
94th · 1975101st · 1989107th · 2001109th · 2005
Republican · House · VT94th–100th
Republican · Senate · VT101st–106th
Independent · Senate · VT107th–109th
Term datesexact
Members · Vermont
JJ

James Merrill Jeffords

Senator from Vermont
SENATER→I1975–200716 CONGRESSES
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
59.5%with Democrats
of 6,479 votes · 40.5% with Republicans
Nominations78%of 95 votes
All contested60%of 6,574 · combined
Steepest move+31 pts1999→01, as an Independent
Changed parties107thR→I

Career arc

100500R→I19752005
2005–06 · 109th · Independent91.4%

Legislation leads. Tap a point to read that Congress.

Votes

Democratic majorityYea
Republican majorityYea
Counts toward scoreNo
Open roll call
Latest 6 shown · 373 contested votes scored in the 109th

By policy area

career
Economics and Public Finance60.3% · 1,970
Armed Forces and National Security72.4% · 518
Government Operations and Politics53% · 479
International Affairs68.1% · 382
Congress31.6% · 354
Taxation49.8% · 331
Labor and Employment62.4% · 170
Health61.2% · 165
Foreign Trade and International Finance61% · 164
Energy69.6% · 158
Crime and Law Enforcement66.7% · 156
Education58.2% · 146
Transportation and Public Works48.6% · 144
Agriculture and Food67.6% · 142
Finance and Financial Sector57.2% · 138
Social Welfare51.4% · 105
Science, Technology, Communications59.8% · 97
Environmental Protection67.4% · 89
Immigration65.1% · 86
Public Lands and Natural Resources67.5% · 83
Housing and Community Development55.4% · 74
Law72.5% · 69
Commerce34.4% · 64
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues82.1% · 39
Water Resources Development63.9% · 36
Emergency Management96% · 25
Native Americans73.7% · 19
Industrial relations42.9% · 14
Commemorations61.5% · 13
Families76.9% · 13
Independent regulatory commissions— · 9
Lobbying— · 9
Private Legislation— · 8
Depletion allowances— · 7
Arts, Culture, Religion— · 6
Electronic surveillance— · 6
Mines and mineral resources— · 6
Mortgages— · 6
Vietnamese Conflict— · 6
Black lung— · 5
Home repair and improvement— · 5
Constitutional amendments— · 4
Government securities— · 4
Income tax— · 4
Municipal finance— · 4
Political participation— · 4
Social Sciences and History— · 4
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 3
Credit— · 3
Embargo— · 3
Financial disclosure— · 3
Indian claims— · 3
International economic relations— · 3
Postal rates and revenues— · 3
Public works— · 3
Revenue sharing— · 3
Conferences— · 2
Contested elections— · 2
Cultural centers— · 2
Executive reorganization— · 2
Life insurance— · 2
Museums— · 2
Power resources— · 2
Printing— · 2
Sports and Recreation— · 2
Territories (U.S.)— · 2
Youth— · 2
Aquaculture— · 1
Barber and beauty shops— · 1
Chemicals— · 1
Congressional oversight— · 1
Day care— · 1
Disabled— · 1
Domestic relations— · 1
Droughts— · 1
Earthquakes— · 1
Government corporations— · 1
Heating— · 1
Impeachments— · 1
Import restrictions— · 1
Intergovernmental relations— · 1
Lakes— · 1
Motor vehicles— · 1
Noise— · 1
Political representation— · 1
Reclamation of land— · 1
Refugees— · 1
Rehabilitation— · 1
Right to counsel— · 1
Rivers— · 1

Also voted in 67 areas where the parties never split — never on a contested question: Age and employment, Agriculture in foreign trade, Animals, Auditing, Aviation insurance, Awards, medals, prizes, Broadcasting, Cemeteries and funerals, Checks, Child abuse, Citizenship, Clergy, Climate, Clothing industry, Commodity control, Conservation of natural resources, Contempt of legislative bodies, Corporations, Customs administration, Dairy industry, District of Columbia, Emigration, Federal advisory bodies, Federal-state relations, Fire fighters, Fishes, Gambling, Gold, Government life insurance, Government property, Government publications, Human rights, Insect control, Interest, Intergovernmental fiscal relations, International agencies, Leases, Libraries, Lotteries, Marine mammal protection, Marine resources conservation, Monuments and memorials, Municipal budgets, Municipal home rule, Municipal politics and government, Narcotics, National emblems, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Photovoltaic power systems, Political prisoners, Postal service, Prices, Public records, Real estate business, Real property, Recall of officials, Recreation areas, Referendum, Rural conditions, Salaries, Solar energy, Strategic materials, Terrorism, Tobacco, Water conservation, Witnesses.

Service record

94th · 1975109th · 2005
Republican94th–100th
Republican101st–106th
Independent107th–109th

Other party switchers

John Alexander LoganD→R · IL · 40thWesley Wade WatkinsD→R · OK · 105thBen Nighthorse CampbellD→R · CO · 104th
AD320 × 50 · Anchor